NEW DELHI: The Indian government has confirmed that a MiG-21 Bison fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) was missing after what it called an ‘air-to-air engagement with Pakistan Air Force jets on a bombing mission’.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that the pilot of the MiG-21 was missing and referred to claims by Pakistan that he was in custody, which India was trying to ascertain.

Pakistan government had earlier announced it had arrested two Indian pilots, who were shot down when they intruded across the Line of Control. Pakistan Army’s media wing ISPR has revealed video footage of one of the pilots, identified as Abhinandan. The captured pilot was shown bound and blindfolded in the brief video and had facial injuries.

Pakistan does ‘not want to go towards war’: DG ISPR

Director General of ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor says Pakistan does “not want to go towards war” with India.

“We do not want escalation, we do not want to go towards war,” Ghafoor tells reporters at a press conference in Rawalpindi.

He adds that the two Indian pilots who have allegedly been captured are “being treated well”. One is currently in custody and the other in the hospital, he says.