US welcomes Pakistan's decision to release Indian Air Force pilot

WASHINGTON: The United States  on Thursday lauded Pakistan's decision to free a captured Indian Air Force pilot whose fighter jet had  been shot down a day earlier by PAF over airspace violation.Lauding  Prime Minister  Imran's  announcement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that he spent a “good deal of time on the phone” with Pakistan  and India to make sure "there was good information exchanged," encouraging each country to defuse the tensions.Pompeo said:  "I had good conversations (with leaders of Pakistan and India), and I am hopeful that we can take down the tension there,  so that both the countries can begin to have conversations that don’t portend risk of escalation."Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump had addressed the tensions and  hinted at "some reasonably decent news" regarding Indian and Pakistan and that the tensions were "going to be coming to an end".PM Imran Khan on Thursday announced to release captured Indian pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman on Friday as a peace gesture.The pilot was taken into custody by Pakistani forces after his jet was downed on Wednesday.