India's defence minister said Tuesday that his country was not readying for military action against Pakistan in retaliation for last month's militant attacks in Mumbai.
The minister, however, did highlight the prospect of a serious deterioration in relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals if Pakistan failed to take action against the plotters of the attacks.
"We are not planning any military action," A.K. Antony told reporters.
But he added that "unless Pakistan takes action against those terrorists who are operating from its soil and against India, and also against all those who are behind the Mumbai terrorist attacks, things will not be normal."
"We have to think about the safety of our people. I cannot say what course of action we will take, but unless Pakistan shows sincerity in what they are saying, things will not be as usual," he added.
Last month's attacks in Mumbai killed 172 people and wounded nearly 300 others. Indian officials say the militants were trained and sent by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group.
earlier related report
US senator urges India, Pakistan to work together on terror
US Senator John Kerry Tuesday urged India and Pakistan to work together to fight terrorism after meeting the leaders of the nuclear-armed nations to try to defuse tensions after the Mumbai attacks.
Kerry, the next chairman of the US Senate's powerful foreign relations committee, said Pakistan's president, prime minister and army chief had assured him of their determination to tackle militant groups in the country.
"I heard strong pledges of cooperation by Pakistani officials of a joint investigation and sharing of information to prevent a recurrence," he told journalists in Islamabad, according to Pakistan's APP news agency.
"I have heard strong condemnation and firm determination from the president, the prime minister, the foreign minister and General Kayani not to allow individual entities take foreign policy decisions for this country.
"It is important for Pakistan and India to talk and use cooperative effort to eliminate this kind of threat."
Kerry, who is expected to report back to US president-elect Barack Obama on the talks, was in Pakistan as India said Tuesday it was putting the peace process with its South Asian neighbour on hold.
The Indian government said the future of relations between the two nations depended on how Pakistan responded to demands for action against the alleged plotters of the attacks on its financial hub.
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