Pakistan releasing Indian pilot tomorrow as peace gesture: PM Imran Khan

Making it clear to India that Pakistan’s efforts for de-escalation should not be considered as weakness, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on the floor of the parliament on Thursday that Pakistan will release the arrested Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow as a peace gesture.

Addressing the Parliament on Thursday, the premier said that he was grateful to his opposition leaders for uniting in this existing situation. PM said that even before taken the oath as the PM, he said to India that if India takes one step Pakistan will take two, but Pakistan did not get a good response from India.

Speaking about the current situation in both the countries, the PM said the whole reason behind the tension between Pakistan and India is Kashmir. "You cannot send an idea to jail," PM said, adding that India cannot make Kashmiris subdue with the use of force.

"I want to ask Indians about all that has happened in past four years. There is an indigenous movement in Kashmir. At one point, Kashmiri leaders had not wanted separation, but because of Indian brutality, today all they demand is independence and nothing but that."

"In our desire of peace, I announce that tomorrow, and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody," the PM said.

Maintaining that Pakistan's efforts of de-escalation should not misunderstood as weakness of Pakistan, the PM said Pakistan is making efforts to deescalate the current tension and therefore, he also tried to contact the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday.

The premier lauded Pakistan media'a role in the coverage of the soaring tensions between the two countries. However, he said it was upsetting to see the kind of war hysteria created by the Indian media.