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| Pakistan 'should avoid conflict' | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The head of Pakistan's military has said there is a "need to de-escalate and avoid conflict" in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. | |
| In what were thought his first comments since tension rose, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said the focus should be on "peace and security in the region". | |
| At the weekend Indian and Pakistani military officials held a "hotline" conversation on recent troop movements. | |
| Last month's attacks on Mumbai left more than 170 people dead. | |
| 'Routine' | |
| Gen Kayani's comments were carried in an army statement linked to his meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei. | |
| The general's comments made no direct reference to India but analysts said they were an attempt to ease the atmosphere. | |
| Relations between the nuclear-armed rivals have been strained since the attacks, which India blames on the Pakistan-based militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba. The group and the Pakistani government deny any involvement. | |
| Pakistan has suspended some army operations against militants | Pakistan has suspended some army operations against militants |
| The unscheduled "hotline" conversation between Indian and Pakistani military officials discussed reports of troop movements, Indian defence sources said. | |
| The Press Trust of India reported the sources as saying Saturday's "unprecedented" call was to clarify positions on either side of the border. | |
| The sources said both sides made it clear they were not taking aggressive positions and that the military movements were routine. | |
| A Pakistani military official confirmed to Agence France-Presse news agency that the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of both sides had spoken. | A Pakistani military official confirmed to Agence France-Presse news agency that the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of both sides had spoken. |
| Reports last week said Pakistan had redeployed some troops from the north-west to the Indian border and cancelled some army leave. | Reports last week said Pakistan had redeployed some troops from the north-west to the Indian border and cancelled some army leave. |
| Air strikes against militants in the restive Swat and Bajaur regions had been scaled down, officials said. | Air strikes against militants in the restive Swat and Bajaur regions had been scaled down, officials said. |
| But one Pakistani military official told Reuters that reports of thousands of troops being redeployed were "absolute rubbish". | But one Pakistani military official told Reuters that reports of thousands of troops being redeployed were "absolute rubbish". |
| India's military has denied any significant bolstering of troops on the border. | India's military has denied any significant bolstering of troops on the border. |