No troop buildup along border, India says

NEW DELHI, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Indian army officials Tuesday denied reports of a troop buildup along the India-Pakistan border, saying Pakistan had "whipped up war rhetoric."

Indian troops were on alert, an official said, because Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi asked Indian officials to "relocate forces to peacetime locations," the Indo-Asian News Service reported.

"We have not deployed any troops along the border. It was Pakistan that whipped up war rhetoric and not us," the official told the news service. "Our forces are only on alert so that they can be pressed into operations if need arises."

Tensions between India and Pakistan have risen since the assault on Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment hub, in late November in which more than 170 people died. Indian officials said they believe the attackers were militants based in Pakistan.

Pakistan will act against suspected terrorists if Indian officials can provide evidence against them, Qureshi said on Pakistani television.

Also Tuesday, Pakistan's National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani called for the countries to resume talks to resolve issues arising from the Mumbai attacks.

"The media has created unnecessary hype. We have to remove mistrust. We have to talk, "Durrani said.