Uncertainty ends. After hours of wait, Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman crossed to India at around 9:15pm.

He was greeted by senior Border Security Officials and later by Indian Air Force officials.

Earlier, there was a confusion that Abhinandan had crossed Wagah border at 5:20pm.

The Indian security forces even had arranged a stage for press meet.

However, for unknown reasons, the release didn’t happen.

At 9:30pm, Abhinandan was escorted to Amirstar.

On Thursday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan had said that, Abhinandan, who was captured after his plane was shot down in Pakistan will be returned to India.

This move was made by Imran Khan “gesture of peace”  to de-escalate the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.

Pakistani authorities escorted him to a joint check post at Wagah Border.

Abhinandan Varthaman’s Mig-21 bison was shot down by Pakistan’s Air defence. On Wednesday, Pakistani F-16 tried to infiltrate Indian Air Space and target several military installations. However, this infiltration attempt was thwarted by the “swift reaction” of Indian Air Force said Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor. While thwarting Pakistani fighter Abhinandan Varthaman’s intercepted one of the F-16s but his Mig-21 was shot down when he accidentally crossed the LOC.

On Thursday, Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor told the media in a press conference, “We are happy that our pilot who had fallen across the Line of Control and was in the custody of Pakistan is being released. We are extremely happy to have him back. We only see it as a gesture which is in consonance with the Geneva Conventions.”