Pakistan's military leaders urge easing of tensions with India

Dec 29, 2008, 10:55 GMT

Islamabad - Pakistan's senior military leadership on Monday stressed the need to dampen tensions with India, which have escalated since last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai.

The remarks from Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and his deputy, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff committee General Tariq Majid, came after separate meetings with Chinese Vice Foreign minister He Yafei in the garrison town of Rawalpindi.

Kayani 'highlighted the need to de-escalate and avoid conflict in the interest of peace and security,' a brief military statement said after their meeting with the visiting diplomat.

Relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated since the November 26 gun-and-bomb attacks in the Indian financial hub Mumbai left more than 170 people dead.

While blaming 'non-state actors' based in Pakistan, India has not ruled out strikes on militant hideouts in the Islamic country. Islamabad has condemned the terrorist strikes, but has warned simultaneously that it would retaliate in case of an Indian attack.

Last week Pakistan moved some of its troops from its western border with Afghanistan to the eastern frontier with India, in what it called a move in anticipation of possible Indian aggression.

However, over the weekend the military officials of the two nuclear-armed countries spoke on their 'hotline,' apparently in a bid to ease tensions.

In an unscheduled conversation, the head of military operations (DGMOs) discussed the means 'to lower tensions and avoid any unwanted situation,' a Pakistan Army official confirmed.

Several countries have urged India and Pakistan to show restraint. China, Pakistan's closest ally, has moved to diffuse tensions.

The Chinese vice foreign minister separately met Kayani's deputy General Majid and discussed the 'regional security situation.'

Majid reiterated Pakistan's commitment for 'maintaining peace and stability in a cooperative framework with all its neighbours,' said a military statement.

He 'emphasised the need for avoidance of provocative belligerent posturing, initiation of reciprocal measures for immediate de-escalation and earliest resumption of the peace dialogue.'

He Yafei was also scheduled to meet Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and President Asif Ali Zardari later in the day.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947 and came to the verge of a fourth one in 2001.