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Meet the pilot who may have averted an India-Pakistan war
Washington Post ^ | March 1, 2019 | Niha Masih

Posted on 03/02/2019 5:00:10 AM PST by C19fan

He parachuted out over enemy territory. Fired in the air to keep back angry locals. Jumped into a pond and then destroyed documents by eating them. Ever since Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, an Indian fighter pilot, crashed in Pakistani territory on Wednesday, the story of his survival has transfixed a nation. Now his safe return to India is helping defuse one of the worst crises to erupt in decades between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. Late Friday, Varthaman crossed into India on foot at the Wagah border crossing with Pakistan. Under bright floodlights, he stepped through the towering metal gate that separates the two countries and shook hands with security officials on the Indian side.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: abhinandanvarthaman; india; pakistan
Wing Commander was flying a MIG-21. His father was an Air Marshall, equivalent to an USAF Lt. General, in the Indian Air Force. What a moustache on the guy.
1 posted on 03/02/2019 5:00:10 AM PST by C19fan
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To: C19fan

Amazing story. And moustache!


2 posted on 03/02/2019 5:09:27 AM PST by Travis McGee (EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: C19fan
Under bright floodlights, he stepped through the towering metal gate that separates the two countries

B-b-b-but fences and walls don't work. Or...do they?

3 posted on 03/02/2019 5:18:42 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Atrophy of science is visible when the spokesman goes from Einstein to Sagan to Neil Degrasse Tyson.)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts

He got through...
/s


4 posted on 03/02/2019 6:01:58 AM PST by gov_bean_ counter (Ruth Bader Ginsburg doctor is a taxidermist.)
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To: C19fan

Looks like a band member of The Village People.


5 posted on 03/02/2019 6:24:06 AM PST by gaijin
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To: C19fan

Not enough real combat experience. Pretend dog fights in training never equal the real thing.


6 posted on 03/02/2019 6:26:58 AM PST by Wuli
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To: C19fan

If he is flying a MiG-21 for a living, he has more courage than any ten normal men. :)


7 posted on 03/02/2019 6:30:36 AM PST by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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To: C19fan

His father probably flew a MiG-21. Things are death-traps now. The IAF is having a lot of operational losses with that aircraft, plus it’s survivablility in a modern air battle is problematic.


8 posted on 03/02/2019 6:33:54 AM PST by Tallguy (To go to)
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To: Tallguy

India and Pakistan will not fight modern air battles. They basically reenact WWI dogfight... in jets


9 posted on 03/02/2019 7:27:16 AM PST by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: DesertRhino

Doesn’t PAK have a special block of F16s? Would eat a dozen Mig 21 for breakfast.


10 posted on 03/02/2019 8:24:27 AM PST by epluribus_2 (he had the best mom - rever.)
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To: C19fan

It’s easy to get through the Wagah Gate...Just pretend you are part of the show! :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fbrH7XOuLY

But, seriously, Cool Story! Thanks.


11 posted on 03/02/2019 8:46:35 AM PST by left that other site (For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
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To: DesertRhino

Well... Vietnam air battle re-enactments with markedly better A2A missiles. Add that the Paks are probably using all-aspect sidewinder — shooting an opponent on the merge was not really possible in 1972.


12 posted on 03/02/2019 10:59:10 AM PST by Tallguy (To go to)
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To: C19fan

At least the Russians make really good ejection seats.

Because they have to.


13 posted on 03/02/2019 12:22:08 PM PST by Paal Gulli
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To: gov_bean_ counter
He got through...

Yes...but technically, he was allowed through.

14 posted on 03/03/2019 6:10:16 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (Atrophy of science is visible when the spokesman goes from Einstein to Sagan to Neil Degrasse Tyson.)
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