In a major development, National Security Advisers (NSAs) of Pakistan and India have established contact after India launched a series of missile strikes inside Pakistan and Azad Jammu Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday. The strikes led to heightened tensions in the region, prompting swift diplomatic and military responses.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Pakistan’s NSA, Lt General Asim Malik—who also serves as the Director General of ISI—spoke with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval in a bid to seek de-escalation amid escalating hostilities. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the communication while withholding details regarding the nature of discussions.
Such contact between high-level security advisers comes after a period of heightened crisis, with hectic behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts reportedly involving international and regional players. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who currently holds the additional charge of NSA, also communicated with both sides shortly after India’s missile strikes and Pakistan’s immediate response.
While Pakistan’s National Security Committee (NSC) initially declared that the country would respond to Indian aggression at a place and time of its choosing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s subsequent address to the National Assembly hinted at a restrained approach to avoid further escalation. Sources revealed that Pakistan had been tipped off by a third country about the imminent strikes, allowing the armed forces to prepare a swift and decisive response.
Unlike the 2019 Balakot airstrikes—which caught Pakistan by surprise—this time Pakistan responded immediately with both air and ground operations. Within the first hour of retaliation, Pakistan shot down five Indian fighter jets, including several of India’s highly touted Rafale jets acquired from France. Military spokesperson Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that Pakistan showed restraint despite having the capability to down even more Indian aircraft.
Indian media maintained a complete blackout on the scale of its losses. Credible sources, including The Hindu, briefly reported the downing of three Indian fighter jets before the story was promptly removed due to government pressure. International experts noted that the conflict served as a significant test of Chinese and Western military technology, with Pakistan’s J-10C jets—procured from China—successfully engaging India’s Rafale fighters for the first time.
An American commentator described the incident as a “massive development” that highlights China’s cutting-edge technological advancements in modern aerial warfare. A French intelligence official also confirmed to CNN that a Rafale jet was brought down by Pakistan, marking the first recorded combat loss of the French-made warplane.
This unprecedented escalation underscores the critical need for diplomatic channels during crises and reflects a shifting power dynamic in the regional military landscape.
