Tensions rise between Pakistan, India

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-27-2008 09:28

Unconfirmed reports say Pakistan has begun moving thousands of troops away from the Afghan border toward India.

Pakistani intelligence officials, who decline to be named, say the Pakistani troops were being re-deployed to Kasur and Sialkot, close to the Indian border.

Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers patrol the border at the India-Pakistan International Border Post, about 180 km (112 miles) from the western Indian city of  Bikaner December 25, 2008. (Vinay Joshi/Reuters)

The Associated Press quotes unnamed intelligence sources as saying that the number of Pakistani troops on the move is 20 thousand.

Earlier on Friday, a Pakistani official who spoke on condition of anonymity said all troop leave had been cancelled.

Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with the chiefs of the army, navy, and air force on Friday, to discuss the latest security situation.

His foreign minister also called on Pakistan to bring to justice those responsible for the Mumbai attacks last month.

Pranab Mukherjee, Indian Foreign Minister, said, "We expect that instead of raising war hysteria, they will address this problem, this is a menace to the regional peace and stability which is essential for all round economic development."

But Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani says his country will only react if another country makes a move against them first.

Yousuf Gilani, Pakistani Prime Minister, said, "I want to reassure you today that Pakistan is a peaceful and responsible country. We will never provoke anyone. If somebody acts against us, then we will react. We will not take any action on our own. There will be no aggression from our side."

India is blaming Pakistan-based militants for the Mumbai attacks, which killed more than 170 people. But Islamabad says it will cooperate in investigations only if provided with proof that the militants operated from Pakistan.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei