Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 27, 2008

US Urges Calm as Tensions Rise Between India and Pakistan
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White House spokesman says US officials are in touch with both countries
and urging greater cooperation in investigating last month's Mumbai
attacks 
 U.S. officials are urging India and Pakistan to avoid escalating
tensions, as Pakistan began moving thousands of troops toward its border
with India on Friday.

       White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe (file photo)A White House
spokesman, Gordon Johndroe, said the United States was in touch with
both countries and urging greater cooperation in investigating last
month's Mumbai attacks, which India blames on Pakistan-based militants.

 Witnesses say they saw Pakistani troops moving eastward from Pakistan's
border with Afghanistan, where soldiers have been fighting al-Qaida and
Taliban militants. 

 The military also canceled leave for members of the armed forces, and
put both the army and air force on high alert.

 Despite the moves, Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said
again Friday that his country would take no aggressive action and only
respond if provoked.

 Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters in New Delhi
that Pakistan was trying to "divert attention" away from targeting
militant groups.

 I      Indian soldiers guard the western sector of India-Pakistan
border at Ranjitpura village, Rajasthan state, India, 25 Dec 2008ndia's
Foreign Ministry on Friday advised Indian citizens that it is "unsafe
for them to travel or be in Pakistan."

 The ministry linked its warning to the reported but unconfirmed arrests
of three Indian citizens in connection to a bombing in Lahore on
Wednesday -- news that has been greeted with skepticism by the Indian
press.

 Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh discussed the growing tensions in
a meeting with his military chiefs on Friday.

 New Delhi says the militants who laid siege to Mumbai were Pakistanis,
trained and equipped by the Pakistan-based militant group
Lashkar-e-Taiba. Islamabad has demanded proof of the gunmen's
nationality. The November 26 attacks killed more than 170 people in
India's financial capital.

 Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their
independence from Britain in 1947. 

 


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