Pakistan Foreign Minister Says Ready to Return Pilot to Ease Tension

India had earlier demanded the immediate release of Wing Commander Abhinandan.

James Mackenzie

India had earlier demanded the immediate release of Wing Commander Abhinandan.

pakistan foreign minister says ready to return pilot to ease tension

Representative photo of an IAF MIG 21 Bison. Photo: PTI

Islamabad: Pakistan would be prepared to return the Indian pilot shot down and captured this week if it helped ease the crisis with its neighbour, foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told Pakistani television station Geo TV on Thursday.

"We are willing to return the captured Indian pilot if it leads to de-escalation," he was quoted as saying.

He also said the Saudi foreign minister was expected to visit Pakistan with a special message from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited both Pakistan and India earlier this month.

(Reuters)

This article went live on February twenty-eighth, two thousand nineteen, at twenty minutes past four in the afternoon.

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.