india planning 'limited war': Pakistan

[LRE]

ISLAMABAD (November 25 2009): Pakistan issued on Tuesday a verbal salvo, accusing its archrival India of preparing for a "limited" war against it. "India has long been working on the so-called 'Cold Start' strategy and preparing for a limited war against Pakistan," Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Abdul Basit said in response to an earlier statement by the Indian army chief.

General Deepak Kapoor told a seminar on "Changing Nature of Conflict: Trends and Responses" Monday that the possibility of a limited war under a nuclear overhang was still a reality in South Asia. The strongly-worded statement from Pakistan came amid a latest exchange of barbs between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, having a violent history of mutual suspicions and wars.

Basit said General Kapoor's remarks only reaffirm India's dangerous and offensive nuclear doctrine. "The statement confirms the hegemonic thrust of India's nuclear doctrine." He urged the international community to take notice of these remarks and India's long-term intentions.

"The major powers have a particular responsibility in this regard. They (Indians) should refrain from steps that in any manner negatively affect the strategic balance in South Asia," the spokesman said. Basit warned that Pakistan is fully capable of safeguarding its national sovereignty and defending its borders but as a responsible country, it would continue promoting peace and stability in South Asia on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Copyright Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 2009

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=99...=&supDate=