Pak does not want war with India: Gilani

ON THE TERROR TRAIL

Seeking to tone down the war hysteria, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today said Pakistan does not want a conflict with India and is determined to foil the designs of “non-state actors” to use the country’s soil to indulge in terrorism anywhere.

Gilani said Pakistan wants “excellent” relations with India even as he asked the international community to persuade New Delhi to defuse the current tensions.

“We understand India’s pain as we are also affected by terrorism,” he said. “Pakistan is a responsible country and is engaged in the war on terror. We don’t want terrorist attacks anywhere in the world, including India.”

Gilani said his country was ready to share intelligence with India. “We don’t want terrorism in any form to be encouraged.” Gilani said his government is determined to foil the designs of “non-state actors” and elements opposed to stability and the ideals of Benazir Bhutto and her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.

At the same time, the prime minister said Pakistan’s armed forces know how to defend the country in the event of any aggression. “I want to tell the world that as a responsible nation, we don’t want war but...If war is imposed on us, the people, the leadership and the armed forces know how to defend the country,” he said in his third such assertions in as many days.

“Nobody should have any mistaken notions about this,” Gilani told reporters after offering prayers at the mausoleum of slain former Premier Benazir Bhutto at Garhi Khuda Baksh in Sindh province.

The premier also urged the world community “to convince India that they should defuse the situation (prevailing) at the moment”.