ISLAMABAD, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The Indian pilot shot down and captured by Pakistani forces this week will be released on Friday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said as efforts to cool a crisis between the two nuclear-armed neighbours continued.

"As a peace gesture we will be releasing him tomorrow," Khan told parliament in Islamabad on Thursday. (Reporting by Saad Sayeed; Editing by James Mackenzie and Nick Macfie)

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