Pakistan cancels troops’ leave over India tension

Pakistan’s army has cancelled leave and ordered troops to report to duty because of tension with old rival India over last month’s militant attacks in Mumbai, a military official and soldiers said on Friday.

Tension has escalated between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India since 179 people were killed in a militant assault on several places in India’s financial hub that India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

“Leave has been cancelled because of the situation. All soldiers have been asked to report to duty,” said a military official who declined to be identified.

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Pakistan’s military spokesman was not available for comment but several soldiers confirmed that orders had gone out calling soldiers back from leave.

Pakistan has condemned the Mumbai attacks, denied any role in the assault and offered to cooperate with India in investigations, but at the same time it has warned that its desire for peaceful coexistence should not be taken as weakness.

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