Ongoing Indian efforts to return captured pilot from Pakistan

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.