Pakistan's NSA Briefs U.S. Secretary of State Rubio Following India's Operation Sindoor

Pakistan’s National Security Adviser, Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik, held a conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss developments following India’s precision airstrikes under Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. The Indian strikes were in retaliation for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, including a Nepali national.

According to reports, Malik and Rubio focused on regional stability and rising tensions between India and Pakistan. India has characterized the strikes as “calibrated and non-escalatory,” aimed solely at known terror camps without targeting Pakistani military installations.

Prior to Malik’s call, Indian NSA Ajit Doval had also briefed Rubio on the operation. Following his discussions with both NSAs, Rubio posted on X, stating, “I am monitoring the situation between India and Pakistan closely,” and echoed President Trump’s earlier remarks expressing hope for a swift de-escalation.

President Trump, in a press briefing, described the situation as “a shame,” adding that signs of such an incident had been visible in recent weeks. Operation Sindoor struck nine terrorist sites, including locations in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The Indian Ministry of Defence described the action as a “precise and restrained response” to the Pahalgam attack. Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC issued a statement asserting that India had expected Pakistan to act against terror networks but instead faced denial and false flag allegations. It reiterated that the strikes were “measured, responsible, and non-escalatory.”