Any significant terror strike in India would ‘re-ignite’ Indo-Pak tension: Petraeus

WASHINGTON - While stressing that talks between India and Pakistan is the key to reducing heightened tension in the region, US Central Command Chief General David Petraeus has warned that any Mumbai type terror strike in India would certainly ‘re-ignite’ hostility between the two nuclear powered nations.

Testifying before the US Senate Armed Services Committee, General Petraeus said any significant terror strike in India would severely dent efforts to reduce strategic tensions prevailing between India and Pakistan.

General Petraeus pointed out that any major escalation in tensions on Islamabad’s eastern border with India could adversely affect gains made in the country’s northwest and Tribal Areas along the Afghan border.

“A major escalation in these tensions would almost certainly result in the immediate redeployment to the east of Pakistani forces currently deployed to confront militants in the West, risking forfeiture of gains in FATA and the NWFP,” The Daily Times quoted General Petraeus, as saying.

“This suggests a need for India and Pakistan to continue discussions begun on February 25 in order to reduce the strategic tension and the risk of miscalculation between these nuclear states,” he added.

General Petraeus said the United States is working to see an improved Indo-Pak relation and it firmly believes that both countries should continue the peace talks despite there being certain provocations. (ANI)