August 03, 2026 05:51 am (IST)
Follow us:
facebook-white sharing button
twitter-white sharing button
instagram-white sharing button
youtube-white sharing button
Kulgam terror attack turns deadlier: Second Chhattisgarh worker succumbs to bullet injuries | 'I'm ashamed': Girl who abused PM Modi during NEET protests issues apology | 'Abuses never solve anything': PM Modi urges forgiveness after Jantar Mantar protest slogans | 'Country wanted an apology, PM forgave it': Congress' sharp swipe at Modi's video over 'abuse' row | Bengal STF arrests JeM suspect from Burdwan; probe underway into 'plot' targeting CM Suvendu Adhikari | 'My father was almost lynched': Families of Delhi cops assaulted during NEET protests share chilling accounts | Nine killed after 'dangerous' building collapses in Maharashtra | Shehzad Poonawalla quits BJP, drops party name from X bio—big political twist | Meta India head Arun Srinivas booked over alleged anti-Modi posts during NEET protests | 'I received threats to join BJP': CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke's explosive allegation sparks fresh political row

Nirmala Sitharaman visits hospital, meets Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan

| @indiablooms | Mar 02, 2019, at 06:09 pm

New Delhi, Mar 2 (IBNS): Defence Minister Nirmnala Sitharaman on Saturday visited the hospital in which Indian Air Force Pilot Abhinandan, who was released by Pakistan from its captivity, is undergoing treatment and met him.

Nirmala Sitharaman also praised the Indian pilot for his impeccable combat skills as well as calmness in adversity.

The Minister also met his family.

"@DefenceMinIndia meets the #AirWarrior #AbhinandanVarthaman at his hospital room in Delhi to convey the sentiment of the Nation. Appreciates his impeccable combat skills as well as calmness in adversity. Interacts with the family and the hospital staff too," read a tweet posted on the Defence Spokesperson's handle.

The spokesperson also posted several images of the Minister's interaction with the Indian pilot.

Abhinandan returns home:

A day after the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted surgical strike, Abhinandan was captured when his MiG-21 Bison fighter had fallen across the Line of Control in Pak-Occuppied Kashmir (PoK) on Feb 27, when the Indian pilot was engaged in a dogfight with an intruding Pakistani F-16 fighter jet. 

He was taken into the custody by Pakistan army.

 

After India refused to sit across the table with its neighbouring country, which was facing an immense international pressure since Feb 14 Pulwama attack, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced he will send Abhinandan to his own soil as a "peace gesture".

Abhinandan finally reached India through the Wagah border at around 9 pm on Friday.

Image: Defence Spokesperson's Twitter page

Support Our Journalism

We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism

IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.

Support objective journalism for a small contribution.