Pakistan to release downed Indian pilot in peace gesture

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Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday that Pakistan will release a detained Indian pilot on Friday for the sake of peace and a de-escalation of tensions between the two neighbors.

Addressing a joint session of the two houses of the parliament, Khan said the Pakistani government has decided to hand over the pilot to Indian authorities as a goodwill gesture.

"In our desire of peace, I announce that tomorrow (Friday), and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody," Pakistani prime minister's office also announced at twitter quoting Khan.

Pakistani civil society activists hold placards during a peace rally in Islamabad, Pakistan, February 28, 2019. /VCG Photo

The Indian pilot was arrested by Pakistani ground forces in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after his fighter jet was shot down by Pakistan in Pakistani airspace on Wednesday morning.

India on Wednesday confirmed that Pakistan downed one of its fighter jets MiG-21 and the pilot had gone missing.

India also summoned Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah in New Delhi and appealed for the safety and safe return of the Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot at the earliest date.

Tensions between the two neighbors have been running high after the February 14 suicide attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, which killed over 40 Indian paramilitary troopers.

India blamed Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), a militant group which has been banned in Pakistan in 2002, for the attack and some Indian leaders had pointed fingers at Pakistan, which had denied the allegations.

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On Tuesday, Indian air force aircraft crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed area of Kashmir and bombed a compound allegedly in the use of JeM.

In response, Pakistan's air force shot down two Indian fighter jets inside Pakistani airspace and ground troops arrested a pilot of the destroyed aircraft.

Khan said he had tried to talk to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday to de-escalate the prevailing situation, but could not get any positive response.

"War is not a solution. Escalation is not the answer. If India escalates, then so shall we," said Khan, adding that "our efforts to de-escalate should not be considered our weakness. We are indulging our efforts to maintain peace in the region."

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan speaks on TV about a recent suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir, in Islamabad, Pakistan, February 19, 2019. /VCG Photo

Khan said the war cannot bring forth any plausible solution to the issues as Pakistan desires peace to work for poverty alleviation, investment, and job creation.

Khan urged the Indian government not to force Pakistan for retaliation because "two nations with weapons of mass destruction should not divulge on the path of war," saying "I seek peace with India."

"Pakistan acted with caution and restraint and replied to Indian aggression only to show that we are capable of safeguarding our sovereignty," said Khan.

On Wednesday, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is concerned about the tensions between India and Pakistan and urged restraint from the two sides to avoid escalation.

Chinese, Pakistani FMs hold phone conversation over Pak-India situation

Indian police at the site of an attack on a bus that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in south Kashmir, February 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that he has spoken with the leaders of India and Pakistan and has urged them to avoid "any action that would escalate and greatly increase risk."

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov offered to help mediate between India and Pakistan on Thursday, saying Russia is prepared to offer the two countries a platform to talk.

"If they want this, then of course," Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russia news agencies.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain in 1947, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.

(Cover: This handout photo released by Pakistan's Inter Services Public Relations on February 27, 2019, shows a captured Indian pilot in the custody of Pakistani forces in an undisclosed location. /VCG Photo)

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Source(s): Reuters ,Xinhua News Agency