India wanted to fly IAF pilot home, but Pakistan refused: sources

India had wanted to send a special aircraft to bring back captured Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan, but permission was refused, sources said. Pakistan announced that the pilot, captured on Wednesday after he ejected during an aerial fight with a Pakistani F-16, would be released through Wagah later that day.

Two routes considered

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the release the previous day, but the manner of the handover complicated the pilot’s return. There were two options: by road through Wagah, or by a flight from Islamabad.

According to sources, India did not want the officer to face a media frenzy at Wagah, particularly in the evening, when the flag-lowering ceremony draws large crowds. India had planned to fly him to Delhi on a special IAF aircraft for a debriefing and medical examination, and had shared a list of officers who would accompany him. The government also did not want reporters to greet him.

Pakistan informed a joint session of its parliament that the Wing Commander would be released through the Wagah border. An Indian official confirmed this but was unsure of the timing. Shivdular Singh Dhillon, Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar, said no firm schedule had been shared and that officials did not know the pilot’s exact location, though they expected him that day.

Crowds at the border

Large crowds gathered at the border from the morning, chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, singing patriotic songs and carrying garlands in the hope of seeing the pilot. Two IAF teams were also waiting. His release marked a step back from the brink after the two countries fought their first aerial engagement in nearly 50 years on Wednesday.

What happened next

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was returned by Pakistan on 1 March 2019.

See also: more news

Originally published on 1 March 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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