Pakistan urges India to scale down 'war hysteria'

Pakistan said today it would not escalate a war of words with India that has worsened relations between the nuclear neighbours, and urged New Delhi to act responsibly to avoid outright conflict.

‘‘Indian leaders are generating a war hysteria because of domestic compulsions,’’ Anwar Mahmood, Pakistan’s information secretary, said as India deployed missiles and troops along their mutual frontier.

‘‘At this moment, we feel it is more important for the peoples of this region to live in peace rather than conflict.’’

India said today its missiles were in position and air force jets flew near the Pakistan border every few minutes. Soldiers exchanged gunfire across the disputed border in Kashmir.

India was considering a ban on Pakistan airline flights, the abrogation of a water treaty and cancellation of Pakistan’s ‘‘most favoured nation’’ trading status.

Pakistan has moved to match the Indian troop buildup, Pakistani army sources said. Pakistan has deployed medium- to short-range missiles along the border that are capable of delivering nuclear warheads, they said.

On Tuesday, President General Pervez Musharraf said armed forces ‘‘are fully prepared and capable of defeating all challenges’’.

Mahmood said: ‘‘Pakistan will continue to act with restraint and act in a responsible manner. Our hope is that better sense will prevail in India also.’’

Tensions have mounted between Pakistan and India since an attack on December 13 on India’s Parliament that killed 14 people, including the five gunmen. India blamed Pakistan, and two Pakistan-based Islamic militant groups Lashkar-e-Tayyaba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Pakistan has offered to let the United Nations conduct an independent inquiry. India has rejected that offer.

Pakistan and India have fought three wars since British rule ended on the subcontinent in 1947. Two were over Kashmir, the divided Himalayan region which both claim.