London, Dec. 3: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has told a leading British daily that neither Pakistan nor India can afford to escalate tensions at present, as this would have a disastrous impact for the war on terror.

“The architects of this calamity in Mumbai have managed to raise a threat on our other (eastern) border. As we have these people (militants) on the run along our western border (with Afghanistan), our attention is being diverted at this critical time,” The News quoted Zardari as saying in a telephone interview from Islamabad.

According to the paper, Pakistan is worried that suspected foreign involvement in the terror attacks on Mumbai will lead to a sharp deterioration of relations with India.

Zardari warned that provocation by rogue “non-state actors” posed the danger of a return to war between the nuclear-armed neighbours. (ANI)