Malik rules out war, says Pak to cooperate in fighting terror

London, Jan 12 (PTI) Ruling out an Indo-Pak war in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan has said it is willing to cooperate with India fully in fighting terrorism, a scourge affecting both the countries.

"There is need for joint efforts by both Pakistan and
India to fight terrorism and we are willing to cooperate with
India fully in this regard," Pakistan Prime Minister's Advisor
on interior affairs Rehman Malik said at a joint press
conference with the MQM Chief Altaf Hussein at the party's
international secretariat here last night.

Both Malik and Altaf Hussein ruled out any war between
Pakistan and India. "People of both the countries want to live
in peace and harmony," Malik said.

Malik, who arrived here last evening on a brief visit,
said terrorism was damaging to both Pakistan and India.

He expressed confidence that the present democratically
elected government would be able to drive the country out of
its present difficulties.

Answering questions, Malik said all the political parties
in Pakistan were united in the fight against terrorism and
extremism. He said the coalition government of PML-N and PPP
in Punjab is functioning normally although odd problems do
crop up which is common in any coalition set-up.

Ruling out any threat to democracy in Pakistan, Malik
said the other political parties were also endeavouring for
the solidarity and prosperity of the country.

Answering a query, Altaf Hussein said there was complete
and full-fledged democracy in Pakistan and any attempts to
cripple or damage it would be unacceptable.

Noting that the country was passing through a delicate
period, the London-based MQM chief attributed the fragility of
democracy to long periods of dictatorship which he said did
not allow democracy to flourish. PTI HSR