This is the moment an Indian pilot who’s jet was shot down appears to be brutally attacked by villagers in Kashmir.
Members of the Pakistani military can be seen trying to stop the locals from attacking the man, wearing a flight suit, who is now being held as a prisoner and has been paraded in public.
The brief clip shows the cameraman approach a group of people huddled around the stricken pilot in what appears to be a small creek.
The pilot, whose arms are being held above his head, is struck in the face twice before being kicked in the back of the head, with someone behind him appearing to attempt to knee him.
The footage has not been independently verified, however, the man looks very similar to captured pilot Commander Abhinandan – with a bloody face – publicised in Pakistan earlier today.
India has confirmed the loss of one MiG21 fighter and said its pilot was missing in action.
Pakistan claims to have shot down two Indian jets and has not mentioned the loss of any of its planes.
Both India and Pakistan claim all of Kashmir as their territory, but each control only parts of it.
Pakistan’s information ministry published but subsequently deleted a video purporting to show one of the Indian pilots that the Pakistani military says it has captured.
In the video, the pilot – who is blindfolded and appears to have blood on his face – identifies himself as Wing-Commander Abhinandan.
In India, Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Raveesh Kumar acknowledged the loss of a jet and its pilot.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called for talks with India and hoped “better sense” would prevail to de-escalate the dispute.
“History tells us that wars are full of miscalculation. My question is that given the weapons we have can we afford miscalculation,” Khan said during a brief televised broadcast to the nation. “We should sit down and talk.”
Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj has also said that her country will act “with responsibility and restraint”.
“India does not wish to see further escalation of the situation,” she said, speaking from a meeting with Russian and Chinese foreign ministers in China.
Pakistan has closed its entire airspace, its civil aviation authority said. International flights are also avoiding the area.
Indian and Pakistani troops have been shelling across the LoC (Line of Control).
Four Pakistani civilians were killed and 10 others were injured in shelling yesterday.
