Pakistani leaders move to ease mounting tension with India

President Asif Ali Zardari has appealed to India not to punish his country for last week's attacks in Mumbai, saying militants have the power to precipitate a war in the region.

In an interview with a British newspaper, President Zardari warned that provocation by rogue "non-state actors" posed the danger of a return to war between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

"Even if the militants are linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, who do you think we are fighting?" asked Zardari.

"We live in troubled times where non-state actors have taken us to war before, whether it is the case of those who perpetrated the 9/11 attacks on the United States or contributed to the escalation of the situation in Iraq," said Zardari.

"Now, events in Mumbai tell us that there are ongoing efforts to carry out copycat attacks by militants. We must all stand together to fight out this menace," he said.

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday made telephonic calls to President of France Nicolas Sarkozy and President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and discussed with them the regional situation and bilateral matters.

During his conversation with President Nicolas Sarkozy, the two leaders agreed to meet early next year. The French President also expressed his support to democracy in Pakistan.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also called President Asif Ali Zardari on telephone Sunday evening. “Situation in the region and bilateral matters came under discussion during the calls,” spokesman of the President said.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday made telephonic calls to world leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel , Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek and discussed with them the regional situation and bilateral matters.

During his conversation with German Chancellor, the two leaders agreed to extend cooperation to curb terrorism. The Turkish Prime Minister also expressed his support to democracy in Pakistan.

“Situation in the region and bilateral matters came under discussion during the calls and world leader assure PM to extend their full support to streamline Pakistan’s ties with India,” spokesman of PM said.

Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has summoned a National Security Conference on Tuesday at 2:30 pm at PM House to discuss prevailing situation and evolve a consensus policy in this regard.

Press Secretary to Prime Minister, Zahid Bashir Sunday told media that the meeting would be attended by country’s politicians.

He said the PM has already contacted politicians by telephone and discussed the prevailing situation with special reference to Mumbai attacks in India. Pakistan was not involved in act of violence, he added.

Pakistan has clear stance on Mumbai incidents and wants to cooperate with India to enable it to nab the perpetrators of these attacks in Mumbai.