Pakistan says ready to retaliate if India strikes

The Pakistan National Assembly has passed a unanimous resolution condemning the November 26 Mumbai terror attack but has also warned India against undertaking surgical strikes in any part of Pakistan.

Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said Pakistani armed forces would give an "equal" response within few minutes if India carried out any surgical strike inside their territory.

Kayani said this at a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Wednesday.

The Army chief apprised the President of operational preparedness of the armed forces.

"The armed forces are fully prepared to meet any eventuality, as his men are ready to sacrifice for their country," Pakistan daily The News quoted Gen Kayani as telling the President.

Zardari believed in gearing up efforts for peace, which should otherwise not be taken as a sign of weakness, the paper said.

He said, "Pakistan wanted peaceful and cordial relations with all its neighbours, but the threatening statements of Indian leadership were creating an atmosphere of aggression and harming the regional environment."

The President added, "We are keeping a close watch on all the latest developments and threatening tones of Indian leadership."

He said all the national security agencies, the army, political leadership and public were completely united to befittingly meet any aggression against Pakistan.

"Islamabad is in touch with all friendly countries, which were being briefed about Pakistan's peace efforts and the hostility shown by India."

"We do not want any war with India, as that would prove detrimental to both our nations," the President was quoted as saying.

Zardari, however, expressed his satisfaction over the preparedness of the Army and said all necessary resources would be provided to the armed forces. He said, "We have the right to defend our borders in case of any aggression."

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gilani said he believed that Dr Manmohan Singh was under pressure, but that Pakistan now wants the international community to urge India to defuse the hostile environment.

"I think there is tremendous pressure of the public on him (Dr Manmohan Singh) otherwise we had good working relations with each other. We also urge the world to to convince India that they should diffuse the situation which is at the moment," Gilani stated.