New Delhi, Jan. 2: India today again asked Pakistan to act against the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage, and said that action is important to prove that Islamabad has taken a tough stand against terror outfits operating from its soil.

Defence Minister A. K. Antony said this on the sidelines of the centenary celebration of Sainik Samachar, the journal of the Indian armed forces. He also released a coffee table book "Soldering On", which chronicles the history of the defence forces over the past
100 years.

"Statements are not important, actions are important. I don't see any noticeable change in attitude of Pakistan. They have to prove by their actions, and when more than 30 terror outfits are operating, how can I say that there is a change in the stance of Pakistan," Antony.

"We have to be ready and our armed forces are doing their duty. They are not lowering their guard and are in the state of full preparedness to meet any threat from any quarter," the Defence Minister added.

Commenting on the Pakistani demand for redeployment of troops in order to bring down tensions between the two neighbours, Antony said: "We are not escalating the issue. We must be prepared to face any eventuality."

"The armed forces are not escalating anything and, there are no troops movement from our side and exercise, which is taking place on the border, is a normal thing," he said.

The Defence Minister also refused to give any time frame for Pakistan to act against the people behind the Mumbai terror attacks, saying "There is not time limit, but only thing is that Pakistan must act."

Antony wished that year 2009 would be a better and happy year for India and its people, and cautioned: "We have to be always alert. We cannot relax anytime and we must not lower our guards. We have to be fully prepared to face any threat on eastern or western border." (ANI)