ISLAMABAD, May 13: Pakistan on Monday reiterated its policy of seeking peace and asked India for de-escalation of the situation by withdrawing troops to their peace-time locations and resolving all disputes in a peaceful manner.

This was said by the foreign ministry spokesman, Aziz Ahmad Khan, at his news briefing two days before the arrival of US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Christina Rocca in the region.

Ms Rocca is scheduled to visit New Delhi and Islamabad amid apprehensions that the coming of the summer might result in the intensification of activity between the nearly one million Indian and Pakistan forces along the borders and a major conflagration between the nuclear-armed countries.

In reply to questions, the spokesman played down talk of war, but cautioned that “when practically India’s entire military might is deployed across the border, Pakistan has no choice but to take defensive posture and position”.

“Well, the point is that it is a dangerous situation although Pakistan has exercised maximum restraint and asked for diffusion of the situation and withdrawal of forces. I think it points towards the success of our diplomacy that they (world powers) have taken notice and efforts are being made to persuade India for withdrawing its forces so that all issues may be resolved by negotiations.”

However, he warned that when forces were facing each other eyeball to eyeball, the situation could turn for a dangerous kind of development. As far as Pakistan was concerned, he said, Islamabad wanted withdrawal of forces, reduction in tension and return to negotiations.

Asked if there were any peace efforts being made behind the scene as the senior US officials had been repeatedly visiting the region and talking to Indian and Pakistani leaders, the spokesman said “nothing behind the scene is taking place”.

If the visit by Ms Rocca may serve the objective of de-escalation and persuade India to withdraw forces and move forward for talks, Pakistan welcomes her visit, Mr Khan said.

The spokesman dismissed the resumption of India-US military exercise after a lapse of nearly three decades as a matter of little worry to Pakistan. He said the cooperation between Pakistan and the United States was free of any third-party’s relationship with Washington and disclosed that Pakistan-US military exercises were also contemplated.

The spokesman debunked reports about foreign forces being allowed to chase Al Qaeda or Taliban activists into the Pakistan territory. He claimed that the American intelligence agency was in Pakistan purely to facilitate exchange of information between the coalition forces and Pakistan.

The spokesman did not regard as credible “odd press reports” about a possible rupture between Paris and Islamabad on the current agreements in the defence field (joint construction of three Agosta submarines). He said the issue should be clear in the light of the French defence minister’s declaration that France’s commitments on Pakistan’s defence projects would continue.