'So proud as an Indian to know our country is well equipped to hit back hard': Shilpa Shetty hails Indian Armed Forces as IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan returns to the country

The entire nation is celebrating IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman is returning to the country, who has been in the custody of the Pakistan Army for the past few days. Several celebrities across domains including Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher, Ranveer Singh, Varun Dhawan, and others have hailed the soldier and welcomed him back to the country. 

Joining the bandwagon was a former actress and fitness enthusiast Shilpa Shetty who penned a long note hailing Indian Armed Forces and the government. As the IAF Pilot returned to the country, she expressed gratitude towards the defense team and the Indian Air Force for the successful second strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan.  

READ: 'You Are Our HERO In The Truest Sense': Sania Mirza Hails IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan As He Returns To India

She posted a doodle of  Wing Commander Abhinandan and wrote, "Wing Commander #Abhinandan. This is how a REAL #Hero looks. Saashtang Dandvat Pranam 🙏 Salute to our defense team & IAF on the successful surgical strike. So proud as an Indian to know our country is well equipped to hit back hard. #Respect to our PM @narendramodi Ji for his VISION & PROMPT TOUGH stand. It’s NEVER about WAR, but OUR fight AGAINST TERRORISM 🇮🇳 #peace#IAF #goals #JaiHind #Gratitude #salute#bravery #makepeacenotwar"

Here's the post:

On February 27, a day after Indian Air Force conducted air strikes inside Pakistan territory and bombed camps of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed - orchestrator of Pulwama terror attack - the Pakistan Air Force aircrafts tried to infiltrate the Indian airspace and attack military establishments.

READ: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra Celebrate As IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman Is Set To Return Home

MIG-21 Bison shot and brought down a Pak F-16 before being hit by ground fire. Wing Commander Abhinandan ejected but his parachute got caught in a westerly heading as a result of which he landed in Pakistani territory and was captured. 

On Thursday, Pakistan PM Imran Khan had announced the release of  Wing Commander Abhinandan, attempting to stitch together the narrative that it was a 'goodwill gesture'.

Sources to Republic TV, however, said that Pakistan had come under a lot of pressure due to India. Top sources in the Ministry of External Affairs had ruled out any deal with Pakistan over the Wing Commander's return, holding firm that Pakistan would have to release him as India had demanded - safely and immediately.