Welcome Back! Pak Handovers IAF Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman To India

Pakistan hands over IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan to Indian officials at Wagah.

World leaders had urged both countries to step back as hostilities peaked over the past few days as India sent fighter planes to strike a terror training camp in Pakistan and Islamabad tried to target Indian military installations in response.

Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman engaged in an air duel with one of the 24 Pakistani F-16s that attempted air strikes across the Line of Control on Wednesday and shot it down before his jet crashed and he was forced to eject.

After the pilot's release was announced, the Army, Navy and Air Force, in a rare joint briefing in Delhi, said they were prepared to tackle any provocation from across the border.

Countries like the UK, France and Russia - all permanent members of the UN Security Council - had also urged restraint. Even China told Pakistan it "does not want to see actions that violate the norms of international relations."

Pakistan would have had to release Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman under the Geneva Convention. It happened sooner because of India's refusal to negotiate and global pressure.

Countries like the US and France had endorsed India's strong stand following the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed, in which over 40 soldiers were killed. India's air strikes on Tuesday targeted a huge Jaish training facility in Pakistan's Balakot, around 80 km from the Line of Control.