Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has confirmed that India and Pakistan have engaged in communication at the National Security Council (NSC) level amidst escalating tensions between the two nations. In an interview with CNN on May 8, Sheikh stated, “I think there have been contact at the level of NSCs,” without providing further details about the nature or frequency of these communications. He emphasized that the responsibility for de-escalation lies with India, particularly following recent clashes that have resulted in significant casualties. Sheikh also noted that Pakistan reserves the right to respond to provocations, citing public pressure on the government to take action.

The confirmation of NSC-level contacts comes amid a backdrop of heightened hostilities. On May 7, India launched "Operation Sindoor," a series of missile strikes targeting what it described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Pakistan's Punjab province. Pakistan has claimed that these strikes resulted in civilian casualties and reported shooting down several Indian aircraft in retaliation. Both nations have accused each other of initiating drone attacks, further escalating the situation.

In response to the escalating crisis, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has engaged in separate discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Rubio emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation and the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the two countries to prevent further conflict.

The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, urging both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to resolve their differences peacefully. The confirmation of NSC-level contacts suggests that behind-the-scenes efforts may be underway to de-escalate tensions, though the specifics remain undisclosed.