Former Pakistan ambassador Maleeha Lodhi foresees intervention by the US in the confrontation between India and Pakistan, in an attempt to defuse the situation.

“This is a very serious crisis brought on by Indian aggression,” she told Dawn.com. “Pakistan has responded to the Indian attack by downing 5 Indian aircraft and destroying Indian posts along the Line of Control.”

“Pakistan has said it will still respond to the Indian attack. It wants to re-establish deterrence because every few years India violates the border to undertake air or missile strikes. Pakistan does not want that to become the new normal, so that creates the strategic compulsion to act.

“Further escalation in a nuclear environment is fraught with grave risks,” she added.