US urges restraint as Indo-Pak tension rises

ON GUARD: Border Security Force jawans keep vigil at the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan.

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Washington: The United States of America is keeping a close watch on escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and has urged both the countries to maintain peace and calm.

The appeal by White House spokesperson Gordon Johndroe came after reports that Pakistan had cancelled the leaves and recalled all its defence personnel and was amassing troops on the Indian border.

Johndroe urged both India and Pakistan to exercise restraint.

"We hope that both sides will avoid taking steps that will unnecessarily raise tensions during these already tense times. We continue to be in close contact with both countries to urge closer cooperation in investigating the Mumbai attacks and in fighting terrorism generally," Johndroe said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States, Hussain Haqqani has dismissed all reports of the deployment of Pakistan's armed forces along the Indian border but in the same breath has also added that they are fully prepared for war if instigated.

"There has not been any major troops redeployment but no one should question Pakistan's capability in fighting back if India escalates the pressure. But the intention of Pakistan is not to wage war but to work together with India in defeating the common enemy which is the terrorist," he said.

India, too, has issued a travel advisory and asked its citizens not to visit Pakistan.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also met armed forces chiefs on Friday at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in South Block to review the security situation in the country.

Army chief General Deepak Kapoor, Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Air Force chief Air Marshal Fali S Major briefed the Prime Minister about the steps taken by the defence forces following heightened tension between India and Pakistan after November's terror attacks in Mumbai.

Tension has been high between India and Pakistan following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks by Pakistan trained Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists in which more than 200 people including many foreign citizens were killed.