NEW DELHI, Nov 3: India on Saturday expressed regret over the “difficult times” Pakistan was going through but flatly refused to condemn the state of emergency declared by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

In contrast to the official Indian statement, opposition leader L.K. Advani described Gen Pervez Musharraf as an untrustworthy ally in the fight against terrorism and expressed solidarity with the people of Pakistan.

India’s foreign ministry spokesman issued a two-line statement which said: “We regret the difficult times that Pakistan is passing through. We trust that conditions of normalcy will soon return permitting Pakistan’s transition to stability and democracy to continue.”

The need for stability together with democracy was emphasised by junior foreign minister Anand Sharma too. But when he was asked by a news channel if the emergency was condemnable he declined to be drawn into the discussion.

Mr Advani, though he did not directly condemn the emergency, was more strident in his criticism of Gen Musharraf’s leadership. He said: “The latest developments in Pakistan are a matter of deep concern for the entire international community. They are a cause of greater concern for us in India, since Pakistan is our immediate neighbour.

“I would like to emphasise that the struggle for democracy and the struggle against terrorism, fuelled by religious extremism, are inseparable in Pakistan.

“The international community must understand that those who have imposed the emergency for perpetuation of military rule in Pakistan cannot be a reliable ally in the struggle against jihadi terrorism.

“I would like to convey my deepest solidarity to the people of Pakistan in this hour of trial, and hope that their struggle for democracy and rule of law will succeed soon.

“I am sure that the Government of India is keeping a close watch on the situation in Pakistan,” Mr Advani said.