Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 26, 2008

Pakistani Officials: Troops Moving Toward India
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=2130A6D:A6F02AD83191E160F5B3EDC2FEF0A9EF0531BB26A5003E7B&
 
Move comes amid tensions with New Delhi over last month's terrorist
attacks in Mumbai 
Indian Border Security Force soldiers keep vigil at the western sector
of India-Pakistan international border at Ranjitpura village, Rajasthan
state, India, 25 Dec 2008Pakistani officials say the Pakistani army is
moving troops toward India amid tensions with New Delhi over last
month's terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Witnesses say hundreds of troops
are moving eastward from Pakistan's northwestern border with
Afghanistan, where soldiers have been fighting al-Qaida and Taliban
militants. The army has not officially confirmed the redeployment. But
defense officials say the military has canceled leave for members of the
armed forces, and put both the army and air force on high alert. India
has not immediately commented on the Pakistani troop movements. But
India's Foreign Ministry Friday advised Indian citizens that it is
"unsafe for them to travel or be in Pakistan" as tensions rise between
the two countries. The ministry linked its warning to the reported
arrests of three Indian citizens in connection to a bombing in Lahore on
Wednesday - news that has been greeted with skepticism by the Indian
press. Tensions between Pakistan and India have soared since the Mumbai
attacks. New Delhi says the militants who laid siege to Mumbai were
Pakistanis, trained and equipped by a militant group, Lashkar-e-Taiba,
based in Pakistan. Islamabad has demanded proof of their nationality.
Both New Delhi and Islamabad say they do not want war, but warn they
will act if provoked. Nuclear-armed India and Pakistan have fought three
wars. They agreed to a cease-fire in 2003.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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