Islamabad (TDI): National Security Advisers of Pakistan and India have established contact with each other after India carried out missile strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday.
Pakistan’s NSA Lt General Asim Malik, who is also DG ISI, spoke to his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval in what seems to be part of efforts to seek de-escalation, The Express Tribune reported.
“Pakistan and Indian National Security Advisers are in touch,” Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told the paper, although he did not provide further details about the nature of discussions and purpose of the contact between the two sides.
It is believed that the two NSAs made contacts after hectic behind-the-scene diplomatic efforts by regional and global players.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also has the additional charge of NSA, also spoke to both the Pakistani and Indian NSAs soon after the Indian missile strikes and Pakistan’s befitting response.
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The Pakistan armed forces, in retaliatory strikes, shot down five Indian Air Force jets, a drone and destroyed brigade headquarters after India carried out missile strikes in cities of Punjab and Azad Kashmir.
Among the destroyed Indian Air Force jets are three French-made Rafales, one Su30MKI and one MIG-29 Fulcrum.
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The Pakistan armed forces also destroyed an enemy post in the Dhundial sector of the Line of Control and shot down a drone.
The Indian attacks come amid escalated tensions between the two countries in the aftermath of the Phalgam attack on April 22 which killed 26 tourists.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
