'No threat of war' with India: Gilani

Islamabad, Jan 15 (PTI) Seeking to down play the Indian army chief's remarks that all options were open for dealing with Pakistan, Premier Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday said there was "tremendous" public pressure on Indian government after the Mumbai attacks and insisted that there was "no threat of war".

"Both countries are nuclear powers. I think there is no
threat of war," Gilani told a brief news conference during a
visit to the Information Ministry.

He was responding to a question about army chief General
Deepak Kapoor's comments Wednesday that all options were open
before New Delhi, including the "fighting option" as last
resort, for dealing with Pakistan.

Gilani indicated that the Indian government's stance is
being influenced by public pressure. "There is tremendous
pressure of the public on the government of India," he said.

Answering another question about Pakistan possibly
abandoning the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline project,
Gilani said a special envoy of Iran who met him recently had
given no indication that the venture will not be implemented.

On the investigation into the killing of Benazir Bhutto,
Gilani said the UN probe into the former premier's
assassination on December 27, 2007 is expected to start soon.

Replying to a question on scrapping of the 17th amendment
of the Constitution that gives the President sweeping powers
to dismiss the Premier and dissolve Parliament, Gilani said
the ruling PPP is committed to repeal the provisions.

A two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament is
needed for scrapping the 17th amendment. The government is
setting up a committee that will examine all suggestions in
this regard and then forge consensus on the move, he added.
PTI RHL