Mumbai: Two days after the capture, Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman will be released by Pakistan as a “gesture of peace” through the Wagah-Attari joint check-post on Friday.

On Thursday, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced that Abhinandan will be freed on Friday after New Delhi sought his unconditional, immediate and unharmed release signalling de-escalation of tension with India.

Khan’s announcement came amid pressure from India and other countries to act against terror emanating from his country.

The 35-year-old Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was flying the MiG-21 Bison that shot down the PAF F-16 in the aerial engagement with Pakistan on Wednesday morning.

Abhinandan will be brought by Pakistani authorities from Rawalpindi to Lahore and handed over first to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) under rules of Geneva Convention before being brought to the check post to return home.