India, Pak should build up atmosphere of trust: Mukhtar

Islamabad, Jan 9 (PTI) Amidst strains in its ties with India following the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan Friday said war is not in the interest of the two countries and emphasised the need to build up an atmosphere of trust.

Pakistan's earnest desire is to have "cordial and
peaceful ties with all its neighbours, including India" as
this is essential for promoting peace and stability in the
region, Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar said during a
meeting with Swedish Ambassador Anna-Karin Enestrom.

"War is not in the interest of the two sides and both
countries should understand each other and build up an
atmosphere of trust," said Mukhtar, a close aide of President
Asif Ali Zardari.

The tensions between India and Pakistan will "only
benefit terrorists and non-state actors as they are bent upon
accelerating tensions and destabilising the whole region", he
said.

Pakistan is "equally concerned" about the Mumbai terror
attacks and has offered to cooperate with India to bring the
perpetrators to justice, Mukhtar said.

India should understand the position of Pakistan, which
is itself a victim of terrorism, he said.

Terrorism poses a grave threat to the world peace and
stability and it is the obligation of the international
community to assist Pakistan in its efforts to combat the
menace, Mukhtar said.

The Swedish envoy said Pakistan and India "should come
closer and promote better cooperation". She expressed concern
at the tensions between the two sides, which "would only serve
the interest of terrorist elements as they want to increase
tension and destablise the region".

Enestrom underscored the need for promoting cooperation
between Pakistan and Sweden in the field of defence. PTI RHL
RKM