Ready to consider IAF pilot release if it means de-escalation of tension: Pakistan

Speaking to Geo News, Qureshi said: "I have just received the (Indian) dossier (on Pulwama attack) and have not gotten the chance to examine it.... We will see and examine the dossier with an open heart. I wish they (India) would have sent this dossier earlier. They attacked first and then sent the dossier. If they would have sent the dossier first and sought Pakistan’s answer there would be no need for an attack.”

“If there is de-escalation with the return of this (Indian) pilot, Pakistan is willing to consider this. We are ready for all positive engagement," he said.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan is ready to talk to Narendra Modi on the telephone and ready to extend an invitation of peace. Is Modi ready?” he added.

"If India wants to talk about terrorism then we are ready," he said. "Our wish is peace and stability is our top priority."

Pakistan suspends Samjhauta Express service

Pakistan on Thursday suspended the bi-weekly Samjhauta Express that runs between Lahore and the Indian capital amid bilateral tension soaring between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

"The Wagah station master (in Pakistan) told us that the passenger and parcel train which comes to Atari station at 12.30 pm will not be coming till further notice," said Deepender Kumar, station master of Attari railway station, India Today reported.

Later in the day, Pakistan Railways officially confirmed that the train service had been suspended for now, reports said.

"We have no information as to when the will service resume. We have informed higher authorities and the immigration officials. We are trying to send stranded passengers via road now," Kumar was quoted as saying by India Today.

India's railways minister Piyush Goyal had on Wednesday said there was no instruction yet from the external affairs ministry to stop the train.

Army, air force and navy joint press meet

The Indian Army, Air Force and Navy will hold a joint press conference at 5pm today on the security situation between India and Pakistan, media reports said.

India Air Force pilot Abhinandan is in Pakistan's custody at the moment after his aircraft crash across the Line of Control.

India has demanded that he not be harmed and immediate released.

Pakistan trying to destabilise India: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted Pakistan and said the countrymen are standing like a 'rock' to counter their evil designs.

Attacking the neighbouring nation, Modi said: "The enemy tries to destabilise us, carries out terror attacks, they want to stop our growth."

He said the Indian soldiers should be given support and confidence by the countrymen.

Pakistan captures IAF pilot

A day after the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as a response to the Pulwama attack, Pakistan claimed that it has shot down two aircrafts of the IAF and captured a pilot.

The neighbouring nation also released a video and claimed that it is of an Indian  pilot named Abhinandan.

In response to the claims, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said: "The Pakistan Air Force was detected and the Indian Air Force responded instantly. In that aerial engagement, one Pakistan Air Force fighter aircraft was shot down by a MiG 21 Bison of the Indian Air Force."

"The Pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky on the Pakistan side. In this engagement, we have unfortunately lost one MiG 21. The pilot is missing in action. Pakistan has claimed that he is in their custody. We are ascertaining the facts," he said.

Pulwama attack and India's response

In the Pulwama attack, which was carried out by the JeM, over 40 Indian paramilitary personnel were martyred.

In the surgical strike, India claimed a very large number of JeM terrorists, trainers, senior commanders and groups of jihadis who were being trained for fidayeen action were eliminated.