Did the US know about India’s plans for surgical strikes across LoC

'For the first time the White house and the State Department are showing, even if symbolically, that they are willing to take a side.'

New Delhi:

While India on Thursday proved its commitment to ensure its safety and integrity by carrying out a cross-border surgical strike, dismantling at least 7 terror launch pads along the LoC, what is conspicuous is the US role in the incident, it at all any.

Soon after the Army announced the operation, many were left wondering if the US was kept in loop regarding the raid, and just how much America was in the know of the planned strike.

In a quick response, State Department spokesperson John Kirby called for the de-escalation of tensions. "We've seen those reports of the surgical strikes. We're following the situation closely as I think you can understand. We also understand that the Indian and Pakistani militaries have been in communication...Our message to both sides is the same, to encourage them to increase communication to deal with this threat and avoid steps that escalates the tension," he said.

According to a report in NDTV, this is interpreted by many as a veiled warning to Pakistan not to make matters worse by retaliating.

"For the first time the White house and the State Department are showing, even if symbolically, that they are willing to take a side,” the report claimed.

Taking into consideration that US National Security Advisor Susan Rice, on Thursday, called on Pakistan to act on terrorism and militancy originating from its soil, and the recent bill moved by US lawmakers to designate Pakistan as a terror state, the noose around Pakistan, it seems, is only growing tighter, and gives out the clear signal that US has decided to shift its stance with regard to Pakistan.