New Delhi: The father of Indian Air Force (IAF) Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthamanthanked the citizens for their support and hoped for the safe return of his son. Air Marshal (retd) S Varthaman statement comes a day after IAF pilot went ‘missing in action’ while retaliating to three Pakistani jets that violated Indian airspace in Poonch and Nowshera sectors of Jammu and Kashmir. (
“Thank you my friends for your concern and wishes. I thank God for his blessings, Abhi is alive, not injured, sound in mind, just look at the way he talked so bravely…A true soldier…We are so proud of him,” his father said while referring to the purported video of the Wing Commander which are doing rounds on the social media.
The IAF veteran further said, “I am sure all your hands and blessings are on his head…Prayers for his safe return. I pray that he does not get tortured and comes home safe and sound in body and mind.”
Thanking citizens for being with the family and extending support in this hour of need, he said, “We draw our strengths from your support and energy.”
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in Pakistan on Wednesday evening reportedly issued a demarche to Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked for immediate and safe return of Wing Commander Abhinandan. A similar demarche was issued to Pakistan’s acting High Commissioner in New Delhi by the Ministry of External Affairs to lodge a strong protest over Pakistan Air Force targeting Indian military installations.
Acknowledging IAF pilot Abhinandan going ‘missing in action’, the MEA objected to the ‘vulgar display’ of the injured IAF pilot in violation of all norms and said Islamabad must ensure that no harm was done to the defence personnel in its custody.
