NSAs of India and Pakistan in touch; India maintains heightened security, is fully prepared for any advances
The Indian Express has learnt that the diplomatic channels are open, although they are in a crisis mode.
The Indian charge d'affaires in Islamabad Geetika Srivastava has been in touch with key interlocutors in Islamabad. She was summoned Wednesday by the Pakistan Foreign Ministry to protest on the Indian strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Sources said the two sides have been in touch, after US Secretary of State and NSA Marco Rubio had spoken to NSA Ajit Doval.
A top Indian official, however, said, 'Being in touch doesn't mean being in talks.' In a way, the official sought to downplay the contacts between the two sides.
Indian formations continue to be at a heightened state of security, and prepared for any advances by Pakistan after the strikes on nine locations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan.
It is important to note that Pakistan recently named Lt Gen Asim Malik, who is the DG ISI, as the NSA.
Pakistan's deputy PM and Foreign minister Ishaq Dar has officially confirmed that the two NSAs have been in touch.
Speaking to TRT World in an interview, Dar was questioned about whether the NSAs had spoken after the overnight action, to which he said: 'Yes there has been contact between the two.'
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