Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is mentally strong and remains in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan, IAF sources said.
The Indian Air Force's Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who spent 60 hours in enemy captivity, is undergoing a detailed medical examination and intensive debriefing before he resumes flying.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Saturday met the IAF pilot in Delhi and conveyed to him that the entire nation is proud of his courage and determination, a day after Pakistan released him in its bid to scale down heightened tensions between the two countries.
Official sources said Varthaman briefly mentioned to Sitharaman about the mental trauma he was subjected to during his nearly 60-hour captivity in Pakistan after he was caught in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. He shot down an F-16 fighter of the Pakistan Air Force shortly before his jet was hit during a fierce dogfight.
He is mentally strong and remains in high spirits despite the harassment he suffered in Pakistan, they said.
(With inputs from PTI, Chhavi Bhatia)
1. 'Cooling down' in Delhi
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Varthaman arrived in the national capital by an IAF flight at around 11:45 PM Friday, nearly two-and-half hours after he crossed over to India through the Attari-Wagah border. The IAF pilot was first taken to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), a compact and specialised medical evaluation centre for aircrew of all the three services. Later he was brought to the Army's Research and Referral hospital. He is undergoing a series of medical tests as part of a "cooling down" process.
(Photo: PTI)
2. Def Min, IAF chief meet Abhinandan
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Sitharaman met the pilot at the Army's Research and Referral hospital. His wife Sqn Ldr Tanvi Marwah (retd), seven-year-old son and sister Aditi were also present, the sources said. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and several top officials of the IAF also met Varthaman.
The sources said he told senior IAF brass that he was subjected to severe mental trauma though he was not tortured physically in captivity.
(Photo: PTI)
3. Counselling and debriefing
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The 'cooling off period' will continue for the next few days where the pilot will undergo medical tests, counselling and debriefing. He will be assessed for physical and psychological harm and examined for signs of trauma.
Operational and intelligence debriefing is the most significant step, in which senior IAF and intelligence officials will hold multiple counselling sessions with Wing Commander Abhinandan. He will be walked through the 60 hours he spent in captivity – right from the time he ejected from his MiG-21 Bison till he walked across the Zero line.
(Photo: PTI)
4. Praised for courage and grace
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After he was captured, Varthaman showed courage and grace in handling the most difficult circumstances for which he was praised by politicians, strategic affairs experts, ex-servicemen, celebrities and people in general. When Varthaman, son of an IAF veteran, crossed over to India Friday night, his right eye above his handlebar moustache appeared swollen. A video on social media showed that he was badly beaten up by a mob before being rescued by Pakistani security personnel.
The fighter pilot cut a figure of poise and valour as he walked across the Wagah-Attari border to step on Indian soil on Friday night. He was immediately whisked away by senior Indian Air Force officials waiting at Zero line, ending hours of excruciating delay caused by the Pakistan army in releasing India's braveheart.
(Photo: PTI)
5. To be back in cockpit soon
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Former Air Marshal VK Bhatia explained, "The process will ascertain whether he has been indoctrinated by the enemy, though the possibility of this is negligible, given the strong determination, Wg Cdr Abhinandan displayed in confinement, and also because he was captive for only two days. He will come out unscathed in this evaluation."
"The officials will also try to gauge the impact of the incident on his psyche. He will also be asked about any information Pakistan tried to pry out of him," said former the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Central Air Command during the Kargil War.
Air Marshal Bhatia also indicated that Abhinandan may be asked to resume flying immediately after the debriefing. "One usually hurts their back during ejection, but the visuals showed him walking in ramrod straight. He looked fit as a fiddle, so he should be back to flying once the debriefing is over," he said.
(Photo: PTI)
