Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, has stated that India and Pakistan have maintained contact at the level of their respective National Security Councils (NSC). This comes amid rising tensions and cross-border attacks between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Sheikh made the comments during an interview with CNN, where he was asked about ongoing lines of communication between India and Pakistan. "I think there have been contact at the level of NSCs, but then this escalation, both in terms of the actions that have been taken and in terms of rhetoric that is coming out, has to stop," Sheikh said. He did not provide further details regarding the specifics of these contacts.

The ambassador emphasized that the responsibility for de-escalation lies with India, while also stating that Pakistan reserves the right to respond. "Now the responsibility for de-escalation is on India, but there are constraints on restraint. Pakistan reserves the right to respond back. There is enough pressure from our public opinion on the government to respond," he added.

These statements follow a recent escalation in the decades-long rivalry between India and Pakistan. The latest tensions began after militants killed 26 people in India-administered Kashmir on April 22, an attack that India blamed on Pakistan. Pakistan denied the accusations and called for a neutral probe. In response to the April 22 attack, India launched strikes inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile attacks. These actions have resulted in casualties on both sides, with nearly four dozen people reportedly killed in two days of fighting.

The US has urged both New Delhi and Islamabad to de-escalate tensions and maintain open communication channels, with Washington specifically calling for direct dialogue. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has spoken separately with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging de-escalation. Rubio also reiterated the United States' support for direct dialogue between the two nations.

Amidst the escalating tensions, several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Singapore, have issued travel advisories for India and Pakistan, particularly for regions near the border. These advisories warn against non-essential travel due to the volatile security situation and potential for armed conflict.

The relationship between the United States and Pakistan has been described as a "roller coaster" characterized by periods of close coordination and periods of estrangement. The United States has historically played a role in mediating conflicts between India and Pakistan.

The contact between the National Security Advisors of India and Pakistan is seen as a crucial channel for communication during this time of crisis. Some experts suggest that the recent exchanges between the two countries may also be a testing ground for Chinese and Western military technology.