Lahore: The handing over of pilot Abhinandan Varthaman to India at Wagah was delayed on Friday as he was asked to record a statement on camera by Pakistani authorities before he was allowed to cross the border, according to sources.

It was not clear whether he was made to record the video under duress. The video also had several jump cuts indicating that it had been edited heavily, apparently to fit Pakistani propaganda. Also, the Indian Air Force (IAF) said that Varthaman shot down an F-16 but there is no mention of that in the video message recorded before his release. At 8.30 pm (local) time, the Pakistan government released the pilot's video message to the local media in which he said as to how he was captured.