Islamabad: Accusing India of continuing to ratchet up tensions in the wake of the Mumbai attacks, Pakistan on Wednesday said such a stance was "not helpful to the cause of peace, security and stability of the region" or for countering terrorism.
Reacting to Home Minister P Chidambaram's remark that India could consider severing trade, transport and tourist links with Pakistan if it failed to act against elements in the country linked to the Mumbai attacks, the Foreign Office Spokesman said that these comments are "most unfortunate".
In a statement issued late this evening, the spokesman said: "India continues to ratchet up tensions, which is certainly not helpful to the cause of peace, security and stability of the region and in the overall efforts in countering terrorism".
The spokesman said India had not responded to Pakistan's "constructive proposals" with regard to the Mumbai attacks and its offer of "serious, substantive and pragmatic cooperation to counter terrorism in the region".
"Pakistan continues to make every effort to defuse tensions in South Asia and has repeatedly stated that it is prepared to extend its cooperation to the Indian Government concerning the Mumbai incident," the statement said.
The spokesman said that "instead of orchestrating a diplomatic and political campaign against Pakistan, it would be better for the two countries to work together to overcome the common challenges facing the region".
"Indulging in blame game is counter-productive," the official said. The spokesman also noted that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani had informed the National Assembly or lower house of parliament on Tuesday that information received from India on the Mumbai attacks had been sent to the Interior Ministry for an inquiry in accordance with the law.
The results of this inquiry will be shared with the Indian Government, he added.
Gilani's comments during his speech in the National Assembly that the material provided by India constituted "information" and not "evidence" has not gone down well with the Indian leadership.
The Prime Minister's statement is "self-explanatory", the spokesman said.
"There is a clear distinction between 'information' and 'evidence' that is legally tenable in a court of law.
Pakistan has offered a joint inquiry to India and awaits an Indian response," the official added.
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