Geeta, the deaf-mute girl, today returned here to a rousing welcome, nearly 15 years after she accidentally crossed over to Pakistan.
Her flight from Karachi landed this morning at the Indira Gandhi International Airport where she was received by officials from Ministry of External Affairs as well as from Pakistan High Commission.
"Geeta, welcome home our daughter," tweeted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who also met the 23-year-old after she arrived here.
"My heart has always been in India," Geeta was quoted as telling the Minister by MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
She was accompanied by five members of the Edhi foundation who were taking care of her in Pakistan.
Dressed in a white-red salwar-kameez and her head covered with dupatta, she waved to the waiting people.
Pakistan High Commission is hosting a reception to honour Geeta, Manzoor Ali Memon, Spokesperson of Pakistan High Commission, told reporters.
Meanwhile, Pakistan High Commission expressed the hope that India would release 459 Pakistani prisoners with same "love and affection".
"It's a good moment for both the countries and sends out a good message. We have handed her over and we hope that 459 Pakistani prisoners will be kept with equal love and affection and be released as soon as possible so that they can lead their lives with honour....
"The Pakistani High Commissioner and his wife is hosting a reception in the evening," said Memon
Geeta was reportedly just 7 or 8 years old when she was found sitting alone on the Samjhauta Express by the Pakistan Rangers 15 years ago at the Lahore railway station.
She was adopted by the Edhi Foundation's Bilquees Edhi and lived with her in Karachi. Bilquis and her grandchildren, Saba and Saad Edhi, have accompanied Geeta here.
Her story came to light after the release of Salman Khan starrer 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' in which the hero unites a girl separated from her Pakistani mother who was visiting India.
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, T C A Raghavan, and his wife had visited Geeta in August after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj directed him to meet her and try to locate her family.
Before boarding the PIA flight from Karachi, a beaming Geeta thanked the Pakistani people for taking care of her.
Faisal Edhi of the Edhi foundation told reporters in Karachi that they would continue to stay in touch with Geeta through social media and even visit her.
"She is not really separating from us," he said.
Sources had earlier said that Geeta has identified her father, step-mother and siblings from a photograph sent to her by the Indian High Commission in Islamabad. The family reportedly lives in Bihar.
Swaraj had said that Geeta would be handed over to the family after DNA test.
