Wing commander Abhinandan Varthaman will return via Wagah border

The captured Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman will be freed on Friday "as a peace gesture", Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced on Thursday. Varthaman was captured by Pakistan on Wednesday after his plane was shot down. India had demanded the immediate and safe return of the pilot.

Addressing a joint session of the National Assembly, Khan said the India-Pakistan situation should not "get out of hand" otherwise "Pakistan will have to retaliate".