India and Pakistan say they do not want war, as tension mounts betweenthem. There has been a sharpdeterioration in ties between the South Asian neighbors following lastmonth's terror strikes in Mumbai, which India blames on Islamicmilitants based in Pakistan.
Pakistani Prime Minister SyedYousaf Raza Gilani said Saturday that Islamabad does not want war withIndia, but is prepared to defend itself from aggression.
Mr.Gilani said, "Only if someone acts, we will react. We will not take anyaction on our own." He said Pakistan wants friendly relations with itsneighbor.
His comment came a day after Pakistani officials saidthat the military has moved some troops from the western border withAfghanistan to the eastern frontier with India.
Tension has mounted between the two countries since the reported troop movement.
In New Delhi, Indian leaders urged Pakistan not to create what they termed "war hysteria."
India'sjunior foreign minister, Anand Sharma, said the government wantsIslamabad to crack down on Pakistani-based terror groups, which NewDelhi blames for last month's terror strikes in Mumbai.
"Thewar mongering by Pakistan is unwarranted and irresponsible. Instead ofindulging in this and creating tension in the subcontinent, it would bein the interest of the region and in Pakistan's own interest to takeaction against the two organizations which have been named,Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamat-ud-Dawa," he said.
Pakistan says India has offered no evidence that the attacks in Mumbai were conducted by anyone in the country.
TheMumbai attacks, in which at least 170 people were killed, have broughtold hostilities between the two countries into sharp focus.
WhilePakistan has canceled leave for army personnel, New Delhi has advisedits citizens to avoid traveling to Pakistan, saying it was unsafe forthem to be in the neighboring country. The Indian Prime Minister alsoheld a strategy meeting with the country's defense chiefs on Friday.
Theinternational community is trying to calm the situation between thenuclear armed neighbors. The United States has urged both countries toavoid escalating tensions. India and Pakistan have fought three warssince their independence from Britain.