During the meeting at a medical facility of the Indian Air Force, Varthaman is understood to have explained to Sitharaman details about his nearly 60 hour stay in Pakistan.
On this day, sisters tie a rakhi on her brother's wrist, symbolising the former's love and prayers for the latter's well-being.
Here's a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.
"Hindustan jeevay, Pakistan jeevay," he chanted while reading a verse.
Colourful lights illuminated buildings and earthen lamps dotted houses as people across the country celebrated Diwali with pomp on Monday after two years of muted festivities due to the pandemic.
This was the first time that sweets were exchanged between the two forces after the abrogation of Article 370 as the Pakistani side refused to continue with the custom, they said, adding after the developments of August 2019, the offer of exchanging sweets was made by the BSF but the Pakistani side did not reciprocate.
People came out of homes in large numbers, offered namaz at mosques, greeted each other with hugs and exchanged food and gifts across the length and breadth of India to celebrate Eid-ul-Adha on Sunday.
This move by the BSF is in protest to the growing incidents of ceasefire violations across the Line of Control and the International Border.
"The way he (Pakistan MP) is saying that 'pair kaanp rahe the' (his legs were trembling). It is because the military posture was very offensive... God forbid if there are military misadventure on 27th and hit some of our military installations, we were in a position to wipe out their forward brigades. They know what is our capability," he said.
When alleged smugglers fired from across the border at their patrol vehicle
Hostilities at the border escalated on Saturday with fresh ceasefire violations by Pakistan in Rajouri and Poonch sectors on Eid.
Pakistan government repatriated 172 Indian fishermen and one civil prisoner on Monday.
Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali got trolled on social media after a video surfaced wherein the player can be seen indulging in bizarre antics at the Attari-Wagah border during the traditional flag-lowering ceremony.
Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said in a statement that Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale was called to hand over a letter of invitation for talks.
Pakistan had announced the release of 151 fishermen on the eve of Modi's swearing-in. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is among the heads of state and government of SAARC nations attending the ceremony held in Delhi.
The 33-year-old from Mumbai was reunited with his family after he returned to India through the Attari-Wagah border on Tuesday evening.
In a major security breach at the Wagah-Attari border crossing with Pakistan, an NRI crashed his SUV into the security gates at the Attari Joint Check Post in the wee hours of Monday and reached the Zero line at the International Border.
Patriotic fervour prevailed at the border with border residents singing songs, beating drums and carrying the tricolour in their hands.
The Indian government has sent Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri to represent India at the event.
His health condition is being monitored by a group of doctors at the Army's Research and Referral hospital, the officials said.
Sharma added that while there is "tension" at the border that runs along Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat, there has been no ceasefire violation till now in these areas.
Here's a recap of the events from the past 24 hours.
The delegates from both sides will discusses issues, including connectivity at the Zero Point and the number of pilgrims to be allowed.
People visited their kith and kin, exchanged festive greetings and sweets while social media, including the likes of WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, was flooded with Diwali messages as many took the virtual route to convey their wishes.
In the meeting, which was held in makeshift tents at the Zero point, both the sides discussed timing of completion of bridge, alignment of roads and other engineering aspects of the proposed crossing points.
The road ahead will be long and winding and much resistance can be expected from the high-flying 'hawks' in our skies. But that should not deter the policymakers from planning a road map with the 'big picture' in mind, observes Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.
The much-anticipated World Twenty20 match between India and Pakistan will be held as scheduled in Dharamsala, Tournament Director M V Sridhar confirmed on Tuesday.
Chandu Chavan's family said as he is now released, the ashes of his grandmother can finally be immersed in a river.
The director general-level talks between border forces of India and Pakistan kicks off on Thursday days after parleys between their national security advisers were cancelled with the host nation set to flag the "most important" issue of ceasefire violations and cross-border infiltration.
Though three crops of onions are raised in a year - early kharif, late kharif and rabi - their harvests are not evenly spread out.
And, in turn, help 1,000 artisans earn Rs 5,000 at a time when they are struggling to cope with financial hardships during the COVID-19 pandemic.
India's assessment is that the Kartarpur project was being implemented with alacrity and military zeal under the supervision of the Pakistan army as it has the strategic objective to use the corridor to encourage separatism in Punjab, say government sources.
'The Indian side has realised that not talking to Pakistan has not served any useful purpose.'
During the day, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan held a meeting to review preparedness for COVID-19 management, through video conference with health ministers, chief secretaries of all states and UTs, central ministers and representatives from the related organisations and stressed on the need for keeping testing and quarantine facilities, isolation wards, and labs in active readiness.
Uzma, accompanied by Indian mission officials, crossed the Wagah Border near Amritsar.
It is the first meeting between officials of India and Pakistan to discuss the Kartarpur corridor issue, amid heightened tensions between the two nations over the Pulwama terror attack, followed by India's pre-emptive air strike on Jaish-e-Mohammed camps in Balakot and Pakistan's subsequent retaliation.
"Our government has invariably made efforts to initiate the process of meaningful dialogue and adoption of peaceful means to resolve the issues but unfortunately the expansionist designs of India have remained the main hurdle in this regard," Abbasi said.
'Attempts at long-term rapprochement have been rather feeble from both sides. The primary cause of the lack of progress is that these efforts do not appear to have the support of the Pakistan army,' says Brigadier Gurmeet Kanwal (retd).
The Indian agenda for the talks has put extra stress on the "most important" issue of breach of ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir
Sidhu said that the corridor would promote peace and erase "enmity" between India and Pakistan and create infinite possibilities between them, including the resumption of cricket ties.
