The National Security Advisers (NSAs) of Pakistan and India have established direct contact in the wake of a dramatic escalation in hostilities, following a series of missile strikes launched by India into Pakistani territory, including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, in the early hours of Wednesday.
Pakistan’s NSA, Lt General Asim Malik, who concurrently serves as Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), reportedly initiated communication with his Indian counterpart, Ajit Doval, in an apparent attempt to de-escalate the rapidly intensifying crisis, according to officials with knowledge of the development.
“Yes, Pakistan and Indian National Security Advisers are in touch,” confirmed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to The Express Tribune, though he declined to share specifics of the dialogue or its objectives.
Diplomatic sources indicate that the backchannel contact was facilitated through urgent efforts by international and regional powers. U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio is said to have spoken to both sides shortly after the missile strikes and Pakistan’s immediate retaliation.
Tensions peaked after India carried out what it described as preemptive missile strikes in response to the recent Pahalgam attack. The move, reminiscent of the 2019 Balakot airstrikes, triggered swift and decisive retaliation from Pakistan. Within hours, Pakistan responded with a barrage of air and ground attacks, reportedly downing five Indian fighter jets, including several advanced Rafale aircraft.
“In the early hours, multiple explosions were reported from Muzaffarabad to Bahawalpur. It became clear that India had acted on its military plans,” a Pakistani official said. “Unlike 2019, this time there was no hesitation. The response was immediate.”
Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), confirmed the retaliation during a televised press conference. “Pakistan could have shot down 10 Indian fighter jets but exercised restraint,” he stated.
While Pakistani media widely reported the military confrontation and downing of Indian aircraft, Indian media maintained a near-total blackout. The Hindu, a respected Indian daily, briefly posted news of three jets being shot down but removed the article, reportedly under government pressure.
International observers have noted the unprecedented nature of the clash, particularly the engagement of advanced fighter aircraft. A senior French intelligence official confirmed to CNN that one Indian Rafale jet was indeed shot down — marking the first loss of the French-made aircraft in combat. This has raised questions globally about the efficacy of Western vs. Chinese defense technologies, as Pakistan deployed its J-10C jets sourced from China in the counteroffensive.
“This confrontation is more than a military skirmish; it’s a litmus test for global defense technology,” an American defense analyst told CNN. “If Rafales were indeed downed, that’s a massive blow to India’s airpower credibility and a significant win for Chinese aviation.”
While Pakistan’s National Security Committee has vowed to retaliate “at a time and place of its choosing,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hinted in a subsequent parliamentary address that Islamabad might avoid further escalation — signaling a possible diplomatic off-ramp.
Despite the fragile calm, the region remains on edge, with both countries’ forces on high alert and global actors closely monitoring the situation. The current NSA-level communication is seen as a critical channel to prevent a full-scale war between the nuclear-armed neighbors.
