WAGAH, India The pilot of an Indian fighter jet shot down in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir last week was handed back to India in the border town of Wagah on Friday, Reuters reported. "Everything is fine. I am not going to answer any questions," a cheerful flight Lieutenant K. Nachiketa told reporters at the frontier crossing. India Saturday delayed peace talks with Pakistan, proposed for early next week to defuse an escalating conflict in disputed Himalayan Kashmir, Associated Press said.

A foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement Pakistan's offer to send Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz to New Delhi on June 7 ``is not convenient.'' The statement came as the Indian army sealed entry for civilians into its mountainous battle zone, suggesting an escalation in fighting against intruders from Pakistan. For the first time Saturday, the air force took a break in its 10-day-old airstrikes as ground forces were locked in close combat with infiltrators from Pakistan occupying mountainous heights since last month.