Indian PM virtually rules out war with Pakistan

New Delhi, Dec 23 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh Tuesday virtually ruled out a military conflict with
Pakistan but asked the world community to nudge Islamabad to
dismantle the "terror machine" in the wake of strikes on
Mumbai, which was an attack on India's "ambitions to emerge as
an economic power".

Singh clearly hinted at Pakistan over the Mumbai attacks
as he said "non-state actors were practising terrorism aided
and abetted by state establishments."

Addressing a conclave of over 120 Indian Ambassadors and
High Commissioners here, he said India was seeking peace and
stability in its neighbourhood but the situation was
"worrisome".

Referring to terror strikes in Mumbai, he said these
were "an attack on the country's ambitions to emerge as an
economic power" but "India would not accept a situation
where terrorism is used as an instrument to cripple India's
economy or the values it stands for."

Later talking to reporters outside Parliament, Singh said
India does not want war with Pakistan but would like Islamabad
to dismantle the "terror machine" existing on its soil and the
international community to use its "power" to persuade
Islamabad to do so.

"The issue is not war. The issue is terror and territory
in Pakistan being used to provoke, to aid and abet terrorism.
I think that is the issue, the issue is not war. Nobody wants
war," he said when asked to speak on the present standoff with
Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks. (MORE) PTI AKK
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