Pakistani PM plays down Indian air force high alert report
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Dec 10, IRNA
Pakistan-PM India
The Pakistani prime minister on Wednesday played down reports that India has put its air force on high alert as tension between the two countries over Mumbai attacks still continues.
Indian media reported that armed forces, especially the air force and the navy, have been kept in a state of war readiness, but said there has been no massive mobilization of troops on the border, though.
"Pakistan armed forces are highly professional. Pakistan has one of the best armies of the world. The nation should not be worried," Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said.
The prime minister was asked to comment on reports that India has put its air force and navy on alert and also deployed missiles along Pakistani borders.
"I want to give message to the nation that the country is in safe hands. They should not be worried," Gilani told reporters at the Multan airport on his arrival from Islamabad.
"Pakistan is a responsible state. Being a nuclear power, we are cautious in reaction," Gilani said.
India had accused two Pakistan-based banned militant groups of being behind the late last month Mumbai attacks, which had killed nearly 180 people and injured over 300.
The attacks have once again spoiled relations between the two nuclear nations and the tension has almost brought to halt the so-called composite dialogue process.
"If there is any provocation in India, you will have to use diplomacy. We have used friends to defuse tension. We have also used our Foreign Ministry," Prime Minister Gilani said.
He confirmed reports on arrest of two leaders of the banned group Zaki-ur-Rhman Lakhvi of the banned 'Lashkar-e-Taiba' and Maulana Masood Azhar, leader of the outlawed group
'Jaish-e-Muhammad.
Indian investigators had accused the two leaders of planning attacks.
"They have been detained for questioning," Prime Minister Gilani said, avoiding more comments.
"I cannot comment unless the investigations are completed. The law enforcement agencies are holding investigations," he said.
"We cannot jump to a conclusion without investigation. We will not say anything unless the investigations are completed".
Asked if Pakistan will ban 'Jamaat-ud-Daawa', new name of the banned "Lashkar-e-Taiba", the prime minister said the world considers Jamaat as the continuation of Lashkar as its all leaders have joined the new group.
"If leaders of the banned group joined Jamaat-ud-Daawa, the world will have concerns. I want to put the record straight, we are not under Indian pressure, but these groups have been banned since 2002, but their leaders joined Jamaat-ud-Daawa so they consider Jamaat-ud-Dawaa as similar group", Gilani said.
The comments came as India has reportedly approached the UN Security Council to declare Jamaat-ud-Daawa as a terrorist group.
Pakistan representative to the UN Hussain Haroon has said that the group could be banned after Security Council decision.
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