India-Pak LIVE: Pakistani FM boycotting OIC meet over invitation to Sushma

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced he had decided to send the IAF pilot back in the interest of peace. Catch LIVE updates on India-Pakistan conflict

 

12:57 PM

12:44 PM

Deputy Commissioner Shiv Dular Singh Dhillon, Amritsar: Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will cross the border today, can't tell you exact time since there are certain formalities. A senior Indian Air force team from Delhi is here, they will be the ones to receive him.

12:42 PM

12:40 PM

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the foreign ministers' meet of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Abu Dhabi. She will shortly address the session as the Guest of Honour. 

 

Swaraj is expected to raise the issue of terrorism at the meet.

12:36 PM

IAF pilot Abhinandan to be released at Wagah border

12:27 PM

Abhinandan's parents get standing ovation on board flight to Delhi

It may have been after midnight when the Chennai-Delhi flight came to a stop at the tarmac but there was no scramble to get bags from the overhead bin or rush towards the exit because all eyes were focused on one couple -- the parents of IAF pilot Abhinandan Varthaman.

 

Air Marshal (retd) S Varthaman and Dr Shobha Varthaman were given a standing ovation as passengers made way for them in the early hours of Friday, ensuring that they couple gets off first.

12:23 PM

12:13 PM

Indian pilot will be released this afternoon: Qureshi

The Indian pilot will be released on Friday afternoon, as assured by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan: Pak Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.

12:06 PM

Pakistani minister boycotts Islamic council meeting over Indian presence

Pakistan's foreign minister said on Friday he would not attend a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Abu Dhabi this weekend because his Indian counterpart had been invited to the event.

 

"I will not go to the council of foreign ministers," Shah Mahmood Qureshi told parliament, adding that lower ranking officials would attend to represent Pakistan's interests.

11:57 AM

Qureshi said that Pakistan will take action against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar if presented with "evidence that can stand in a court of law".

 

"If they have solid, inalienable evidence that is acceptable to courts of Pakistan, share it with us so that we can convince the people and we can convince the independent judiciary of Pakistan," Qureshi said.

 

"We need to satisfy the legal process," he said.

11:56 AM

IAF pilot's return our diplomatic victory: Amit Shah

BJP President Amit Shah Friday said creating situation for return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistan was a diplomatic victory, ahead of the expected arrival of the captured pilot.

 

Speaking at a media conclave, Shah said, "Creating situation for return of pilot Abhinandan in such a short span of time is our diplomatic victory".

11:48 AM

According to ANI, Abhinanadan Varthaman will be released this afternoon via Wagah.

11:47 AM

"He is in Pakistan, according to my information. He is unwell to the extent that he can't leave his house, because he's really unwell," Qureshi told CNN when asked about Azhar.
 

Azhar is the chief of JeM that claimed responsibility for the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. India has been repeatedly trying to list him as a "global terrorist" by the UN. However, China, an ally of Pakistan, has blocked India's efforts by using veto.

11:43 AM

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has admitted that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has admitted that Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar is in Pakistan

11:35 AM

Every time we are attacked, we will retaliate: Amit Shah