Indian and Pakistani leaders move to diffuse tensions (Roundup)

Dec 27, 2008, 14:40 GMT

New Delhi/Islamabad - The leaders of India and Pakistan on Saturday vowed to refrain from war, a day after Pakistan deployed some of its troops on Indian border.

Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said his country was 'peace-loving, and does not want war or aggression.'

'We will not act but will only react. Pakistan will not indulge in any misadventure,' he added in televised remarks.

Tensions have grown between two nuclear-armed neighbours since the terrorist attacks on India's financial hub Mumbai on November 26 that killed more than 170 people. India has blamed 'non-state actors' based in Pakistan.

The accusation has led to increased tension. Pakistan Friday moved some of its troops from its eastern border to redeploy along the western border with India, saying it was an anticipation of possible aggression from across the frontier.

However, Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Pakistan was using war jargon only to deflect what he said was the real issue of the Mumbai attacks.

'It is unfortunate that an atmosphere has been created in Pakistan, some sort of war hysteria,' PTI news agency quoted Mukherjee as saying at an international seminar for Zoroastrian teachers in India's eastern West Bengal state.

'I appeal to Pakistan and Pakistani leaders: do not unnecessarily try to create tension. Do not try to deflect the issue. A problem has to be tackled face to face. Evading a problem will not help to get rid of it,' he said.

'The issue is not the defence of Pakistan. The issue is not war. The issue is the terrorist attack on Mumbai. The unprecedented scale, magnitude, ferocity as well as audacity all clearly demonstrated that it was not only preplanned, but also well planned,' Mukherjee said.

India has pressed Pakistan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure on its soil and take stern action militant groups, including Lashkar-e- Taiba, which is suspected for masterminding Mumbai strikes.

Mukherjee said the world needed to focus on how to prevent and eliminate terrorism.

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari promised to eradicate Islamic extremism but asked India not to dictate on the issue.

'We shall do it because we need it, not because you want it,' Zardari told his party workers gathered at his family home in Nau Dero to mourn the assassination of his wife and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto one year ago.

'We have non-state actors. Yes, they are forcing an agenda on us,' he said, adding India should not fall into the trap of militants who want a war between the two countries.

'We don't talk war. We have issues and problems. We have cancer (militancy) and will have to cure it,' Zardari said.

Meanwhile, India's Foreign Ministry has advised Indian citizens against travelling to Pakistan following reports in the Pakistani media that some Indian nationals had been arrested over the last two days in Lahore and Multan and were being accused of being terrorists.

'Indian citizens are therefore advised that it would be unsafe for them to travel or be in Pakistan,' India's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.