Islamabad says should war break out with New Delhi, the option of using nuclear weapons would not even be on the table in Pakistan.

Pakistan rejects nuke use against India
Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:20:18 GMT

Students protesting over reports linking Pakistan to the Mumbai attacks in a demonstration in Islamabad

Islamabad says should war break out with New Delhi, the option of using nuclear weapons would not even be on the table in Pakistan.

Pakistani Defense Minister Chaudhary Ahmed Mukhtar said on Monday that Islamabad wants peace with India but would defend itself if New Delhi thrusts war.

"The Indians would never want war because if war breaks out, then God forbid the situation might develop into a nuclear war," Mukhtar claimed.

The minister was reacting in response to Indian threats to wage war if the soil of neighboring Pakistan is used for promoting terrorism in India.

On Sunday, Indian Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi said New Delhi is capable of giving a "befitting reply" to those using Pakistani soil to promote terrorism in her country.

The November terror attacks in the Indian commercial capital of Mumbai raised speculations that the two nuclear nations are headed toward a military conflict.

India holds Pakistan-based militants responsible for the attacks -- as a result of which at least 170 people were killed and 200 others were injured.

Islamabad vehemently denies any involvement in the attacks.

The White House has sided with India and accuses Pakistan of providing a safe haven for Taliban, al-Qaeda and other terror groups.

Washington on Monday summoned Pakistan's National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani to demand that the country to do more to "tackle the menace of terror".

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had earlier criticized Islamabad for not doing enough.

"It's not enough to say the terrorists involved in Mumbai terror attacks are non-state actors. If they're operating from Pakistan, then they have to be dealt with", Rice warned. (Prss TV Report)

HE/MT/AA