LARKANA/LAHORE, Dec 25: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani urged the international community on Thursday to persuade India to defuse tension with Pakistan.

Talking to reporters after laying floral wreaths on the graves of Z.A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, he said: “We want excellent relations with our neighbours, whether India or Afghanistan.”

He said he had called the Indian prime minister after the Mumbai incident, expressed concern over the tragedy and sympathised with the aggrieved families because Pakistan was against terrorism.

Mr Gilani said: “We agreed to share intelligence with India because Pakistan does not want terrorism anywhere in the world.”

He said the Indian government was under mounting public pressure because of failure of its agencies to prevent the Mumbai attacks and, therefore, it was looking for a scapegoat.

“I assure the world and the nation that Pakistan has no aggressive designs and being a responsible country it is against terrorism.” He said that national leader Benazir Bhutto was a victim of terrorism and no one had suffered more than the people of Pakistan.

“We are a responsible nation and do not want war. But a war is imposed on us, our people, the armed forces and the leadership will defend the country,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said: “Whenever we receive proof we will investigate on our own and take people into confidence”.

He said he would assure the world that Pakistan’s soil would not be used for acts of terrorism.

The prime minister said that non-state actors who wanted to destabilise the country and democracy and subvert the mission of late Z. A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto would not be allowed to succeed.

He paid tribute to PPP workers who had laid down their lives on Oct 18 and about 500 injured workers who had lit the candle of democracy and carried forward the mission of Z. A. Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.

Answering a question, he said that in accordance with unanimous resolutions adopted by the National Assembly and provincial assemblies the government had requested the United Nations to investigate the murder of Benazir Bhutto. “An inquiry by the government could be labelled as biased,” he added.

About relations between the PPP and the PML-N in Punjab, he said that democratic parties had formed the government under the ‘reconciliation’ policy of President Asif Zardari. “Agreeing to disagree is the beauty of democracy and we want to maintain our relations”.

He said: “We want to save the democratic system and remove any misunderstanding with Mian Nawaz Sharif and with the political parties in Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP.”

When asked about reports that the prime minister might be changed, he said, he would not like to comment on ‘somebody’s desire’, adding that “if there is any other candidate I have no objection”.

The prime minister was accompanied by acting Sindh Governor Nisar Khuhro, Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Babar Awan.

Earlier, addressing the convocation of the King Edward Medical University in Lahore, the prime minister said: “We are a peace-loving, civilised and responsible nation and strongly condemn terrorism in all its manifestations all over the world.”

He said the PPP’s manifesto was to promote peace, tolerance and prosperity.

Mr Gilani said: “We want friendly relation not war with our neighbours.”

However, he said Pakistan was capable of defending itself and the people, parliament and army were united.

The prime minister said the government was focussing on development of health and education sectors and had allocated huge funds for the purpose.

He said a medical college for women was being set up in Multan on his initiative.

Steps are also being taken to upgrade basic health units.

He praised the university’s performance and services and announced a grant of Rs200 million for a girls’ hostel and Rs1 million for the endowment fund.