Post his comeback from Pakistan, Abhinandan went saying that he went through "a lot of mental hara**ssment", further added that t...
Post his comeback from Pakistan, Abhinandan went saying that he went through "a lot of mental hara**ssment", further added that there was nothing like physical tor*ture. The IAF pilot was captured by Pakistani authorities on February 27 after his MiG 21 Bison went down during a dogfight with Pakistani jets. But before his plane was hit, he taken down an F-16 of Pakistan air force.
A source from The PTI, Varthaman on Saturday briefly apprised Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa about the mental traum*a. The defense minister had met the Wing Commander at the Army's Research and Referral hospital here, a day after Pakistan released him in its bid to scale down heightened tensions between the two countries.
During the conversation officials had with the media, they revealed that the last message Abhinandan has sent them was "R-73 selected". This message was in the form of a recording and seconds after sending this message, his fighter jet is sh*t by Pakistan army. Abhinandan was droving his MiG-21 Bison jet.
Abhinandan's wife Sqn Ldr Tanvi Marwah (retd), seven-year-old son, sister Aditi and a few senior military officials were present in the meeting, PTI quoted its sources as saying. A defense ministry spokesperson said Sitharaman conveyed to the pilot the sentiment of the nation and appreciated his "impeccable combat skills as well as calmness in adversity".
Official sources further noted that he is mentally strong and remains in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Varthaman is undergoing a series of medical tests as part of the "cooling down" process and it is expected to continue till Sunday. Once the health check-up is over, debriefing sessions will be arranged for him, officials said.
He arrived in the national capital around 11:45 PM on Friday and soon after he was taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialized medical evaluation center for aircrew of all the three services. When he crossed over to India Friday night, his right eye above his handlebar mustache appeared swollen.
Abhinandan also conveyed to the IAF brass that he wants to return to the cockpit as soon as possible. For the last two days, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital in Delhi.
He told the senior IAF commanders and doctors treating him that he wants to start flying at the earliest. On Wednesday, he became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his MiG-21 Bison jet was hit in a fierce dogfight.
During the conversation officials had with the media, they revealed that the last message Abhinandan has sent them was "R-73 selected". This message was in the form of a recording and seconds after sending this message, his fighter jet is sh*t by Pakistan army. Abhinandan was droving his MiG-21 Bison jet.
Abhinandan's wife Sqn Ldr Tanvi Marwah (retd), seven-year-old son, sister Aditi and a few senior military officials were present in the meeting, PTI quoted its sources as saying. A defense ministry spokesperson said Sitharaman conveyed to the pilot the sentiment of the nation and appreciated his "impeccable combat skills as well as calmness in adversity".
Official sources further noted that he is mentally strong and remains in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan. Varthaman is undergoing a series of medical tests as part of the "cooling down" process and it is expected to continue till Sunday. Once the health check-up is over, debriefing sessions will be arranged for him, officials said.
He arrived in the national capital around 11:45 PM on Friday and soon after he was taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialized medical evaluation center for aircrew of all the three services. When he crossed over to India Friday night, his right eye above his handlebar mustache appeared swollen.
Abhinandan also conveyed to the IAF brass that he wants to return to the cockpit as soon as possible. For the last two days, the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot has been undergoing medical treatment at a military hospital in Delhi.
He told the senior IAF commanders and doctors treating him that he wants to start flying at the earliest. On Wednesday, he became the first IAF pilot to shoot down an F-16 fighter jet during aerial combat with the Pakistani Air Force. Varthaman was captured by the Pakistani Army after his MiG-21 Bison jet was hit in a fierce dogfight.
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