We are already in touch with the US President, who has sent his generals to talk to both countries. In my view, the government of India at its highest level should not hesitate to proactively seek international mediation. After all, around the world, it is peace-makers from outside the domain of conflict who have been able to successfully bring warring parties to the table. It was so in the case of Israel versus the Arab world, so it was as recently as in the Serbia versus NATO engagement. There should be no sense of hurt of national ego in agreeing to mediation.
Peace is more valuable than avoiding hurt egos.
It may be too late to retrieve the situation if either national presses the nuclear button now. Both India and Pakistan have much to lose by continuing the conflict. It is these poor men and women, not the rich, who will supply cannon-fodder in a continuing conflagration. Above all, our own hard-won economic, political and social gains over the last five decades in terms of economic growth and alleviation of poverty, limited though they may be, are in danger of being sacrificed at the altar of the merchants of death. Let us not throw away the chances of achieving permanent peace, just because we consider mediation to be an intrusion in our affairs.