India, Aug. 1 -- The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has asked the government to bring over-the-top (OTT) communication platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal under a formal regulatory framework.

In a statement, COAI called these platforms the "weakest link" in the country's communication security, arguing they offer voice and messaging services similar to telcos but operate outside the regulatory net.

Citing a recent incident in Pahalgam, where satellite phone signals helped track down three terrorists, COAI pointed out the importance of regulating all communication channels to strengthen national security.

The industry body, which represents private telcos Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, said th...