PESHAWAR, Dec 19: Former NWFP chief minister, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, has termed the mounting tension between Pakistan and India detrimental to peace in the region, saying that if sagacity was not adopted it would plunge South Asia in the scourge of nuclear war.

In a statement issued from London, he expressed serious concern over what he called irresponsible statements of Indian ministers in the wake of terrorist attack on Indian parliament.

The former chief minister added that such behaviour has polluted the peaceful environment and thus it would pose a serious threat to the future of over one billion people in South-East Asia.

Condemning the attack on the Indian parliament, he said that such a cowardice act of terrorism was a slap on the face of civilized world.

Sherpao ridiculed the fabricated accusations of New Delhi wherein Islamabad was being targeted of its vicious propaganda.

If Pakistan is itself a victim of unabated terrorism then how it could collaborate such a nasty thing”, asked Mr Sherpao.

Hailing the statements of President Musharraf and Premier Vajpayee over the issue, the PPP leader said that both leaders had exercised considerable patience reflecting their wisdom.

Aftab Sherpao said that both the leaders should accelerate their endeavours for ending hostilities between the two nations.

He slammed the Indian threats and apprehended that such atmosphere would spoil the peace process.

He said that India should not underestimate the military capability of Pakistan adding that we had maximum nuclear capability and the sufficient deployment of nuclear arsenals could possibly meet any military adventurism.

He warned Indian leadership not to impose war on Pakistan as it would be like a no gain and no loss situation for both the nations.

He maintained that the imposition of any eventuality would turn a humiliated nation more terrible beyond anybody’s imagination.

Sherpao refuted the threats and viewed that Pakistan was not a Banana Republic. He added that it could meet any aggression with force.

He opined that if Pakistan could support the world community against terrorism why India was reluctant to seek help from the former in this regard.

Mr Sherpao appealed to Indian nation and peace-loving people to come forward and play their role for the restoration of peace in the region so that South Asia could be saved from the destruction of nuclear war.