Pakistan wants dialogue with India, not war: Gilani

Pakistan has always favoured dialogue with India to a war, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said while appreciating India's intention to resume talks.

Reiterating Pakistan's stance on resumption of dialogue, Gilani said "politicians make bridges not walls", APP news agency reported.

"I appreciate India's intention to resume talks," he said, adding the threat perception regarding India necessitated the need for a dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries.

"There is an intention that we say that there will be no war. But intentions can change anytime. There is a threat perception, that's why we want dialogue," Gilani said in interview with a private television channel telecast on Wednesday night.

Pakistan is stressing that the talks should not be limited to terrorism and the composite dialogue process should be resumed from where it was frozen in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. It also wants the two countries to hold talks on Kashmir, Siachen, river waters, Sir Creek and other issues.

Responding to a query regarding the threat perception by the army chief that Pakistan Army was India-centric while President Asif Zardari had earlier stated there was no threat from India, the prime minister said naturally the two countries' armed forces were centred towards each other.

When asked about his stance on the no first use of nuclear weapons being the new head of the National Command Authority, he said: "I will not comment".

Gilani said Pakistan was a responsible state and would adhere to the policy of minimum deterrence.

"We know our limits. We have a national policy on National Command Authority and we have comprehensive policy on national security," he added.