COLUMN - Post 26/11- India-Pakistan unease to last

(C. Uday Bhaskar is a Reuters columnist. The views expressed are his own)

By C. Uday Bhaskar

The audacious November 26th Mumbai terrorist attack has led to a brittle stand-off between India and Pakistan that has taken on an opaque and uneasy military contour.

This has caused concern in both countries - and by extension in the international community given the nascent nuclear weapon capability that both South Asian neighbors now possess.

This anxiety is further compounded by the history of the wars that the two nations have engaged in since 1947, ostensibly over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

The current situation is still fluid and at the time of writing this comment, there are reports that the Pakistani military has chosen to move its troops from the country's western border to be re-deployed against India on the east.

On the Indian side, the PM has met with the service Chiefs and leaves of military personnel have been curtailed.

Many of these reports are perceived to be speculative and the Indian government has sought to allay domestic fears by reiterating that 'nobody wants a war' (PM Manmohan Singh) and that ‘the real issue is terrorism and apprehending those responsible for Mumbai' (Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee).