The debriefing of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured by Pakistan and returned to India last month, has been completed by the Indian Air Force and other agencies and he is going on sick leave for a few weeks now, news agency ANI reported, quoting sources in the Indian Air Force.The 35-year-old pilot was captured by Pakistani forces on February 27 after air combat between the Indian Air Force and the Pakistani Air Force, the first in nearly half a century.
India then carried out “non-military, pre-emptive” air strikes in Pakistan’s Balakot on February 26.
On the latter day, Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Indian-administered Kashmir which caused no casualties or damage.
Also on 27 February, Abhinandan Varthaman MiG -21 Bison fighter plane was shot down when he was chasing Pak jets in Jammu and Kashmir and crossed over to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
He ejected safely and was taken into custody by the Pakistan Army.
He was released two days later by Pakistan as a peace gesture.
Wing Commander Abhinandan returned to India on March 1.
A decision on when Wing Commander Abhinandan can resume his operations as a fighter pilot will be taken by a medical board in the near future, sources said.
The doctors at the Army’s Research and Referral Hospital have advised the Indian Air Force Pilot to go on a leave after the debriefing.
