Welcome back, Abhinandan: A look at how his homecoming unfolded

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman back to India, saying the nation is proud of his exemplary courage.(Read More)

Congress president Rahul Gandhi welcomed IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan, who returned to the country after almost three days of captivity in Pakistan, and said his dignity, poise and bravery have made all in India proud.(Read More)

The firing and mortar shelling continued overnight in several sectors of Poonch and Rajouri districts, the official said adding the Indian Army retaliated strongly and effectively. (Read More) 

"We are happy to have him back," said a top IAF officer Friday night shortly after Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was handed over to Indian authorities by Pakistan at the Attari-Wagah border. Reading out a brief statement, Air Vice Marshal R.G.K. Kapoor, assistant chief of air staff, told a posse of reporters that the pilot will be taken for a detailed medical examination as he was subjected to lot of stress during his nearly three-day captivity. (Read more)

The air vice marshal did not take any questions from the media. (PTI)

Pakistan’s Foreign Office announces IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's return to India, but describes him as a “prisoner of war” (POW), according to PTI. “While in captivity, he was treated with dignity and in line with international law. The captured Indian Air Force Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has been returned to India today,” read a statement issued minutes after the pilot crossed over to India at the Wagah border.

Good to be back, Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman told officials after crossing over at Attari check post.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who barely crossed over into India at the Attari-Wagah border, has been taken for a medical check-up, following which he will fly to Palam airport in Delhi aboard a special plane.

Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman has crossed over into India after spending two days in Pakistan captivity.

Pakistan has changed the timing of handover of IAF's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman twice. Indian defence minister is keeping a close watch on proceedings. The handover might now take place at 9 pm tonight: Sources

People celebrate ahead of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's arrival at the Attari-Wagah border on Friday.

A large number of people from different walks of life thronged the Attari border Friday to witness the return of their "hero" Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who is expected to touch home soil after his release from Pakistan. Wing Commander Varthaman, son of a decorated IAF veteran, was captured by Pakistan after his jet went down following a strike by an enemy missile.

The day slipped into sunset and then night but the wait for Wing Commander Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan on Wednesday and was released on Friday, continued. Long after nightfall, as the skies opened up and drenched Amritsar, there was no sign of the Indian Air Force pilot. 

India's general elections come at a critical juncture for its economy amid tensions with Pakistan, a top Singapore bank has said.

In a report on India's economy, the DBS Group said that despite some reforms, a welcome improvement in the business climate and a discernible decline in governance lapses, growth has been lacklustre.

The savings-investment gap remains large, external vulnerabilities loom against an improved but still modest buffer to absorb shocks, and financial sector stress remains high, according to a DBS Group Research team.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to govern with strength and has considerable popularity, but a recent spate of state election setbacks and some fledgling governance scandals have dented the aura of inevitability from the elections, said the report.

"A spike in political tensions vis-a-vis Pakistan is another complicating factor," said Chief Economist Taimur Baig and Economist Radhika Rao at the DBS Group Research. (PTI)

Pakistan Parliament's joint session today passed an unanimous resolution strongly condemning as "aggression" India's counter-terrorism operation in the country.

The resolution was moved by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi who earlier announced that he was to skipping meeting of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation over the invitation to Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj.

Indian fighter jets bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. In the operation, a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for suicide attacks were eliminated. The House rejected as "self-serving" and "fictitious" India's claims of having destroyed terrorist facility and causing heavy casualties.