Pak creating war hysteria to divert attention: India

NEW DELHI: India on Tuesday slammed Pakistan for trying to create a "war hysteria", saying it was aimed at diverting attention from the real issue of ending terrorism emanating from that country.

"My request to our friends in Pakistan would be (that) they should address the issue. The issue is not creating war hysteria or raising accusing fingers at others," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters outside Parliament.

"There has been a sinister, heinous terrorist attack on Mumbai from the elements in Pakistan. India has requested Pakistan to take action against the perpetrators of those attacks. We request Pakistan to act on our request," he said.

Mukherjee said Pakistan must honour the commitments given by its two Presidents -- Pervez Musharraf in January 2004 and Asif Ali Zardari in September 2008 -- not to allow the territories under its control to be used for terrorism.

Reacting to comments by Pakistan's Army Chief Gen Pervez Kayani that the armed forces had the right to defend borders in case of any aggression, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said, "The talk of war or creating war hysteria is diversionary."

He said, "The issue is not defence of Pakistan but terrorist attacks on India from Pakistan."

India feels that Pakistan, under mounting international pressure, is resorting to such tactics to deflect attention from the real issue of taking action against those responsible for the Mumbai attacks.