Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman, captured by Pakistan on Wednesday, will be released tomorrow as a "gesture of peace", Imran Khan declared today, signaling a pullback hours after the US called for immediate steps towards de-escalation and President Donald Trump revealed that there would be "reasonably attractive news" from Pakistan and India. Aerial combat between Indian and Pakistani fighter planes yesterday had caused global concern, with several world leaders urging both countries to take a step back. Imran Khan said in the Pakistan National Assembly that he had tried to reach out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Yesterday, I tried to call (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi to say that we don't want escalation. But our desire for de-escalation should not be taken as our weakness," Imran Khan said. "We have an Indian pilot. As a peace gesture, we will release him tomorrow," said the Pakistan Prime Minister as parliamentarians stamped their feet in approval. India had rejected Imran Khan's call yesterday for a dialogue. There would be "no deal" on the Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman's release and India would not ask for consular access either, top officials asserted today. Amid soaring tension, the government last evening summoned the Pakistani envoy and handed over a demarche demanding the "immediate and safe return" of the pilot. It also strongly objected to Pakistan's "vulgar display" of the pilot in videos and said it "would be well advised to ensure that no harm comes to him".