India opts to talk not fight with Pakistan

India took steps yesterday to ease tension with Pakistan after last week's attack by Kashmiri separatists on the parliament in New Delhi.

After a week of war-like rhetoric from India and exchanges of fire along the border on Tuesday night, the Indian prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, stressed yesterday that he would pursue the diplomatic road first, in an effort to persuade Pakistan to crack down on the separatists.

He left open the possibility of a military strike against targets in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir if diplomacy failed.

The US, which has been talking to both governments to try to prevent a war between two nuclear powers, said yesterday that there was only a low danger of conflict at this point.

The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, General Richard Myers, said: "I think both countries are handling the situation very well right now, with great restraint."

Mr Vajpayee, who is under heavy domestic pressure to retaliate, used his first speech to parliament since the attack to try to reverse the march to war. "We are trying to use diplomacy as a weapon but other options are open and we will consider them carefully," he said.

Pakistan has demanded proof from India that it was linked to the attack. Mr Vajpayee said: "All five terrorists who were killed were Pakistanis. Is it not proof enough?"

The Indian army said it damaged six Pakistani bunkers during artillery exchanges along the border on Tuesday night. Such exchanges have been commonplace for years.

The Indian army chief, General S Padmanabhan, said Pakistan was increasing its troop numbers along the border.

"There is a build-up on the other side. They have moved in certain forces. Certain forces which should have gone back have not gone back," he said.

Asked if India was also moving up troops, he said: "I have acted in whatever manner was appropriate for me to act."

Reporters in the region have seen Indian tanks, anti-aircraft batteries and mortars moving towards the border.