India: Efforts on to get back pilot from Pakistan

CHANDIGARH, India

India on Thursday said efforts are underway to bring back a fighter pilot who is in Pakistan's custody, a day after the Pakistani army claimed to have shot down two Indian fighter jets that crossed into its territory.

"Wing Commander Abhinandan is an embodiment of a mentally tough, selfless & courageous soldier," V.K. Singh, India’s minister of state for external affairs, tweeted on Thursday morning, referring to the pilot.

"Our efforts are on & under the Geneva Convention we hope that the brave pilot would return home soon," he added.

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors escalated after Pakistani forces engaged with six targets along the Line of Control (LOC) -- a de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir Valley between the two countries -- and shot down Indian aircraft when they crossed into Pakistani territory.

India confirmed it had lost one of its aircraft and said a pilot was missing in action, adding that they have downed one Pakistani jet.