Dubai: Last night, Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan finally crossed the Zero Line that marks the India-Pakistan land border just before 9 pm local time. As soon as Pakistan released captured Indian pilot, hashtag #AbhinandanReturns started trending on Twitter. People shared videos of the pilot being received by senior Border Security Force officers.
Pilot handover ‘a great gesture by Pakistan’
People welcomed and hailed him a hero.
Twitter user @Nidhiiagarwalll posted: “Brave IAF (Indian Airforce) Pilot Wing Commander #Abhinandanreturns to India from Pakistan... Dear Wing Commander #Abhinandan, entire nation is proud of your courage and valour.”
And @himantabiswa tweeted: “It is indeed heartening that you’re back with us. A mighty salute!”
@TechnicalGuruji tweeted: “Our hero is here...Entire Nation is proud of our brave and fearless Wing Commander Abhinandan... Big Salute.”
@Suresh_Nair_007 shared a video: “Wing Commander Abinandan Varthamans parents get standing ovation... he is the son of India. #AbhinandanReturns”
War is an insult to humanity
Meanwhile, some users took the opportunity to pay respect to Squadron Leader Sidharth Vashisht who lost his life in an M1-17 helicopter crash in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam district on Wednesday.
Twitter user @Abhinav18773697 posted: “While we celebrate our hero #AbhinandanReturns home, let’s take a moment to pay respect to another warrior son of the soil...”
And @drshehla added: “#SiddharthVashisht RIP, can anyone actually feel the pain she is going through right now? In the end it’s only her who has to live with the fact of him not being there for her or their child... War is an insult to humanity. #Abhinandanreturns”
