New Delhi, June 5 :     Airstrikes were discontinued today, strengthening speculation that there has been a de-escalation of sorts on the Kargil front. The air force explained that operations had not been suspended. But the air force, in coordination with the army, did not feel the need for carrying out sorties today. If need arises, strikes may be resumed tomorrow. It entirely depends on the assessment of the situation on the ground. At the same time, the army today did not provide too much detail about the situation on the war front. Army spokesperson Brigadier Mohan Bhandari said: ?The joint operations are progressing well. Ground forces have been able to further close in on the armed intruders. Reliable intelligence gathered suggests that the logistical strangulation forced upon them is making them desperate and think of abandoning their posts.? The army said militants trying to abandon their positions would not be provided ?safe passage?. But there are strong indications that both sides would prefer this solution. The jawans will get back those vantage positions on the heights without having to lose lives. Besides, the army has not gained control of the slopes at all the ridges. It means they have not been able to cut off access of the intruders to their supply points beyond the Line of Control (LoC). In these circumstances, the infiltrators can themselves move back without Indian jawans blocking their retreat path. The air force today said that Flight Lieutenant K. Nachiketa ? who returned from captivity in Pakistan last evening ? had been subjected to ?physical and mental? grilling. Air force spokesman Group Captain K. Rajaram said that being a ?good airman,? Nachiketa bore the interrogation with ?lan. He said Nachiketa?s questioning was ?intense?, but there are no apparent injuries on his person. He will resume duties after the routine medical check-up. In Batalik and Drass sub-sectors, the Indian army appears to be concentrating on taking hold of the ridges where the air force has accomplished its task and hit its targets. It is only on these ridges that the war can be described as being hard-fought. Elsewhere there is a lull. There are two reasons for this development. First, the diplomatic initiative between both sides may be taken up shortly though India has not agreed to Pakistan?s offer to send over foreign minister Sartaj Aziz on Monday. Second, India wants to minimise casualties and keep the toll down. In that case, it is better to wait and watch at the bottom of the slopes rather than face the volley of bullets as they climb up. The air force today said close skirmishes were on at some places. As a result, explosives with ?huge footprints?, or those that cause damage over a wide area, could not be dropped. Such an attempt would expose the soldiers of the Indian army to the air force assault. The air force has already explained that ?precision? explosives ? ones with pinpoint accuracy ? do not have much impact in Kargil because the militants are holed up in crevices and nooks on the ridges and will survive these attacks. What have surprised many are reports from places like Drass and Batalik, saying journalists are not being given passes to visit the front. Both print and electronic media journalists complained about this at the briefing this afternoon. The army said it had no such report from the front and explained that even if such restrictions have been made, it is to ensure the safety of the reporters. Journalists refused to buy this explanation. The toll has risen to 54 from 48 over the past few days. It is not a huge increase and suggests that the army is not taking the foolish decision to scale the heights at all the ridges. Today, the army avoided making any reference to cross-border shelling, suggesting that both sides have been restrained about the use of artillery. The right atmosphere to begin the peace talks in Delhi is being created in Kargil and elsewhere along the LoC in Kashmir. Of course, the army will try to regain some of the ridges before the dialogue and strengthen India?s bargaining position.