No one in Pak wants war with India

new delhi: diplomatic offensives are being exchanged as military force deployment at the india-pakistan border builds up by the hour. but the mood in pakistan is sombre. there is palpable apprehension in people's minds, even if they want to believe that the two governments are wise enough to avoid a full-scale war. ''pakistanis are glad the afghan war is over. no one wants another war. they just want to get on with their lives. that is why they are very disappointed in india for threatening another war-like scenario,'' says lahore-based academic and activist nighat said khan. ''it's becoming difficult to talk about peace and ties between the two countries because of things the indian government is doing — stopping buses, trains and air services etc, which are going to affect common people. there will be anti-war rallies on sunday in all the big cities,'' she adds. while a large section of pakistanis believe there will be no war as the us doesn't want one, lahore-based professor anis ahmed pakistanis says, ''despite this, anti-india feeling is high here since the pakistani media and the government has been propagating that india was feeling sidelined in the post-september 11 scenario so it is trying to draw international attention.'' however, pakistani economist haris gazdar believes the chances of war between india and pakistan are higher now than they were a month ago. ''i don't believe that either india or pakistan actually want war. but in a situation of high escalation and tension mistakes can take place.'' meanwhile, ahmed says, ''india is asking pakistan to change its state policy of breeding terror groups. the pakistani government is doing it but it cannot happen as fast as the india wants it to happen.'' adds khan, ''musharraf's government is surely doing something about it. otherwise the internal minister's brother wouldn't have been murdered by the jehadis. no more public rallies of the jehadis being held in pakistan. so public support is all with musharraf and not with the jehadis.'' gazdar differs. ''it's very hard to gauge. benazir is still quite popular and would win elections if she was allowed to contest them in a fair manner. there is much greater political maturity in pakistan than outsiders or even many pakistanis appreciate. the political party as an institution is strong, and for its faults is considered by most people as being superior to the military. having said that musharraf is still seen as someone clean. the jehadis are a threat to political structures only so far as they have had the backing of secret state agencies. now that support has clearly been withdrawn.''