The Pakistani military leader, Purvez Musharraf, has said that despite what he called provocative statements by India there was no danger of the two countries going to war.

General Musharraf accused Delhi of using rhetoric to create hysteria and raise tension in the region.

Speaking to reporters in Karachi, the Pakistani leader said provocative statements from Delhi made it difficult to restart the process of dialogue.

His comments follow remarks on Sunday by the Indian prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that bi-lateral talks would have to include discussion of the return of what he called Pakistani-occupied territory in disputed Kashmir. Each country accuses the other of involvement in terrorist activities, and both have expressed concern over their neighbour's nuclear capability.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service