Pakistan Will Never Initiate War: Musharraf

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, December 29, 2001

Pakistan Will Never Initiate War: Musharraf

Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf said on Friday Pakistan would never initiate a war. "Pakistan stands for peace, we do not want war. We will never initiate a war unless it is thrust...upon us. We want peace. We do not want war. We understand all the hazards that will follow," he stated this while speaking at a Christmas dinner, he hosted in the honour of the Christian community, at the presidential palace, here.

But he said the leader of his nuclear-powered rival needed to show similar openness to cool the heated exchanges, the tit-for-tat diplomatic sanctions and the shadow of another war looming over the border.

Musharraf said it was a pleasure for him to host a Christmas dinner for all the Christian community living in Islamabad and outside. Later, talking to reporters, he reiterated Pakistan wanted peace in the region and said: "We want peace on the border and we are in favour of de-escalating on the borders and we only hope that war is not thrust on us."

To a question, he said whatever Pakistan was doing on the Afghan border continued to be done and there was no thinning out on the physical presence of border that it had sealed. "Pakistan will not shift troops from the Afghan border to reinforce its frontier with India despite rising tensions there," Musharraf added.

The dinner was largely attend among others by the ambassadors and heads of the foreign missions in Islamabad, besides distinguished guests from the minority communities, federal ministers and senior military and civil officers.

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