The BBC reported that Pakistan has freed an Indian fighter pilot captured after his plane was shot down in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The pilot was identified as Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and was handed over to India at a border crossing with Pakistan.
On Thursday Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan said the pilot’s release was a “peace gesture” to India.
Tensions between the two countries have escalated sharply in the past few weeks.
On Tuesday, India carried out air strikes on what it said was a militant camp in Pakistan in retaliation for a suicide bombing that killed at least 40 Indian troops in Indian-administered Kashmir on 14 February. .
Pakistan then said it had no choice but to retaliate to the Indian raids with air strikes on Wednesday. That led to a dogfight and the Indian fighter jet being shot down in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
