Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was brought to Delhi after Pakistan released him through the Attari-Wagah border late on Friday. When a...
Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was brought to Delhi after Pakistan released him through the Attari-Wagah border late on Friday. When asked about his state in both physical and mental attires, 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.
Further, a report 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 defence 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.
In a tweet, the defence minister said she met Varthaman and his family to "commend him on his valour, express the nation's gratitude for his selfless service, and wish him a speedy recovery".
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1101826679037743104
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.
In a tweet, the defence minister said she met Varthaman and his family to "commend him on his valour, express the nation's gratitude for his selfless service, and wish him a speedy recovery".
https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1101826679037743104
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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