IAF pilot Abhinandan returns home, will be taken for medical check up: Air Force

"He has been handed over to us.....as per standard operating procedure of the Air Force he will now be taken for a detailed medical check up. This check up is mandated particularly because the officer had had to eject from an aeroplane which would put his body under great stress," Air Vice Marshal RGK Kapoor told media persons immediately after he crossed over to India after completing the long and tedious formalities.

"IAF is happy to have Abhinandan back," AVM Kapoor said.

Dular Singh Dhillon, Amritsar Commissioner, said the Wg Cdr Abhinandan did not speak much when met Indian security and civil officials and merely said he was "happy" to return to his motherland.

The Indian pilot's MiG-21 Bison fighter had fallen across the Line of Control in Pak-Occuppied Kashmir (PoK) on February 27, when he was engaged in a dogfight with an intruding Pakistani F-16 fighter jet.

He was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army.

"In our desire for peace, I announce that tomorrow (Friday) and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody," Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said in the joint session of Parliament in Islamabad on Thursday.

This announcement from Imran Khan had come within two hours of an Indian official asserting in Delhi in as many words that "there will be no deal" and "no negotiation" with Pakistan on the issue of 'safe return' of the Indian Air Force pilot.