Multan, Dec 26: Pakistan Foreign Minister has refused to rule out war against India, saying that the country should prepare for the worst.

"We should hope for the best but prepare for the worst," the Daily Times quoted Qureshi, as saying.

Asked if he would rule out war, the Foreign Minister said: "I am not ruling out anything. But if war is imposed, we will respond to it like a brave, self-respecting nation."

Lahore, Dec 26: After years of hostilities, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi have held a one-on-one meeting in Dubai on country's political situation.

Sources said the meeting was a result of efforts by `mutual friends' to reunite the PML factions, a private news channel reported on Thursday.

Islamabad, Dec. 26 : Fears of war between India and Pakistan gained more momentum with the deployment of Pakistani troops on strategic locations along the line of control (LOC).

"Pakistan troops are being deployed along the Line of Control in Kashmir and the international border with India," the Daily Times quoted a defence source, as saying.

"Pakistan moved its 10th Brigade to Lahore and has ordered the 3rd Armoured Brigade to march towards Jhelum," the newspaper said, quoting reports from the Indian media.

Islamabad, Dec. 26: An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the richter scale has hit the southwest coast of Pakistan early morning today.

"According to the US Geological Survey the quake of moderate density struck around 300 kilometers southwest city of Karachi at 2240 GMT on Thursday," the Dawn reported.

There were no immediate reports of any damage or casualties.

No immediate alert has been sounded from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, thus putting tsunami rumors to rest in the region.

Peshawar, Dec 26: A pro-Taliban group Ansar Wa Mohajir has claimed responsibility for Wednesday's bomb explosion in Lahore and the earlier rocket attacks on Dera Ismail Khan, nailing Pakistan's lies that they have arrested an Indian spy for the blasts.

In the backdrop of the Mumbai terror attacks and growing international pressure on Pakistan to arrest the perpetrators of the carnage, Islamabad has claimed to have arrested an Indian national in connection with yesterday's bomb blast in Lahore, a move however denied by local police officials.

Toofan Wazir, identifying himself as a commander and spokesman of the group, phoned The News from somewhere in North Waziristan to claim responsibility for the two attacks.

India is pressuring Islamabad to take strict action against the people behind Mumbai 26/11. Recent arrest of an Indian national on Wednesday by Pakistan’s intelligence agencies has added a new twist in Indo-Pak relations.

Law-enforcement agencies have arrested Satish Anand Shukla in connection with Wednesday’s bomb blast in the Bahawalpur House here.  Four persons were injured and a woman was killed when a car bomb went off at 9.20 am within the Government Officers Residences complex. Officials claim that he is an Indian spy.