Pakistan moves troops to Indian border

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- Pakistan canceled leave for its soldiers and was redeploying troops to the Indian border, officials said Friday.

The moves came at a time when Pakistan's relationship with India has frayed following the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and the arrest of Indian citizens suspected of being behind a bombing in Lahore, Pakistan, The Telegraph of London reported. The Indian government responded by warning its citizens against visiting Pakistan.

Officials said 20,000 soldiers were being shifted to the border with India, mostly from the area along the frontier Pakistan shares with Afghanistan.

Indian and U.S. investigators say that the Mumbai attacks, which killed 171 people, were planned and carried out by a group based in Kashmir with long ties to Pakistani intelligence agencies. Pakistani officials have said the claims are not based on evidence.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars during the past 60 years. Both governments say they will defend their national interests but do not want armed conflict, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The Bush administration Friday called for calm in the region. Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said the United States was "in close contact" with Pakistan and India.

"We don't want either side to take steps to raise tensions in an already tense situation," he said.