ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan announced on Thursday that his country would be releasing a captured Indian pilot as a way to de-escalate the military crisis that has pitted nuclear-armed militaries against each other for days.

“In our desire of peace, I announce that tomorrow, and as a first step to open negotiations, Pakistan will be releasing the Indian Air Force officer in our custody,” Mr. Khan said.

Indian officials did not immediately respond. But after hours of relative lull throughout Thursday, the gesture appeared to be a face-saving opening for both countries to head off a plunge into war.

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The days before had brought both nations to the brink. On Tuesday, Indian warplanes dropped bombs inside Pakistan — it’s not clear what they hit — and Pakistan downed at least one Indian fighter jet on Wednesday. Tens of thousands of troops have been mobilized on both sides of the border.

Both nations wield nuclear weapons, and Britain, China, the United States and many other countries have been urging them to step away from conflict.

At a news conference after his summit meeting in Vietnam, President Trump said that there was “reasonably decent” news coming from India and Pakistan and “hopefully it’s going to be coming to an end.”

Along the border of the disputed region of Kashmir, which has been the flash point of trouble, residents said on Thursday that artillery shelling continued but that it was lighter than the days before.

The tensions increased this month after a militant in Kashmir rammed a carload of explosives into an Indian convoy, killing at least 40 Indian troops. Jaish-e-Mohammed, an outlawed group based in Pakistan and active in the Indian-controlled areas of Kashmir, took credit for the attack, prompting India to blame Pakistan.

Salman Masood reported from Islamabad, and Jeffrey Gettleman and Maria Abi-Habib from New Delhi.

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