Pak General Kiyani turns dove, tones down war cry
Pakistan's army chief is stressing the need to "avoid conflict" amid tensions with India following last month's terror attacks on Mumbai.
Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's comments Monday were perhaps the strongest signal yet that Pakistan does not want to see a fourth war with India over the attacks.
They are believed to be his first in relation to the tensions.
An army statement said Kayani made the statement in talks with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei.
The Pakistani establishment now believes that the "time of war" with India is over and the recent telephonic contacts at the highest military level have led to reduction in tensions generated in the wake of troop build up following the Mumbai terror attacks.
"The time of war has gone and even India cannot dare mount surgical strikes primarily because of the uncertain response," an unnamed top official told The News daily after the Directors General of Military Operations of the two countries spoke on their hotline over the weekend.
The contacts between the DGMOs had not been suspended after last month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai and that the two officials remained in touch, officials said.
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