Imran Khan orders release of IAF pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman

New Delhi: The assistant chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal R G K Kapoor, on Thursday, exposed Pakistan military's false claims by saying that Indian Air Force (IAF) shot down two Pakistani F-16 fighters during a dogfight to repel a Pakistani attack on Wednesday morning.

Pakistan had earlier said that it never used its F16 fighter aircrafts to target military airbases in India but Air Vice Marshal, during a media briefing, showed evidences that clearly said that F16 fighter aircraft was used and was shot down by India.

On pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's release orders, Air Vice Marshal said, "We are very happy Abhinandan will be freed tomorrow and look forward to his return."

When asked if this is a goodwill gesture from Pakistan, he said, "It was in line with the Geneva Conventions."

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan announced in Parliament on Thursday that Varthaman would be released on Friday as a "peace gesture"

He was addressing the media along with the representatives of the Army and the Navy, who both said the armed forces are on high alert and ready to meet any security challenge on land and sea

Tensions between the two countries escalated after Indian fighters bombed terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed's biggest training camp near Balakot deep inside Pakistan early Tuesday. It came 12 days after the JeM claimed responsibility for a suicide attack on a CRPF convoy in Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers.