www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article5302549.ece
CLASSIFIEDS From The Times December 8, 2008 Hoax phone call 'almost took Pakistan to war' President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardar Jeremy Page in Delhi A hoax telephone call almost sparked another war between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan at the height of last month's terror attacks on Mumbai, officials and Western diplomats on both sides of the border said on Sunday. Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistani President, took a telephone call from a man pretending to be Pranab Mukherjee, India's Foreign Minister, on Friday, November 28, apparently without following the usual verification procedures, they said. The hoax caller threatened to take military action against Pakistan in response to the then ongoing Mumbai attacks, which India has since blamed on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), they said. Mr Zardari responded by placing Pakistan's air force on high alert and telephoning Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, to ask her to intervene.
Gunmen had elite training from Pakistan' But when Dr Rice called Mr Mukherjee, he said that he had not spoken to Mr Zardari and that his last conversation with Shah Mahmood Qureishi, the Pakistani Foreign Minister, had been quite civil. "It's unbelievable, but true," said a Western diplomat familiar with the frantic diplomatic exchanges that eventually resolved the misunderstanding. The episode - reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film Dr Strangelove - dramatically illustrates how easy it would be for another war to break out between India and Pakistan, even accidentally, following the Mumbai attacks. The two countries have already fought three since winning independence from Britain in 1947 and almost went to a fourth in 2002 after LeT militants attacked India's parliament, prompting both sides to mass troops on their common border. Some officials and analysts fear the hoax may have been part of an elaborate plot to provoke a conflict between India and Pakistan, thereby diverting Pakistani forces away from the fight against Islamist militants near the Afghan border. No-one on either side believes the call was a joke as people on both sides are acutely aware of the potential for war. However, it remains unclear who placed the hoax call, from where, and why Mr Zardari's office appears to have disregarded standard operating procedures.
Have your say We grieve for innocense lost and affected by the terrorist acts in Mumbai. Security perssonel were valiant in bringing the situation under control. My suggestion would be for India and Pakistan to work together in the mindset of trust to keep these kinds of acts from being carried out. Chohan, Oldham, England Thank god they didnt get in to the war at such time that both countries are nuclear capable and the terrorists would likely to see both countries fight so they can kill innocent people in the region and all over the world so they can succeed in their mission Sunny, Newyork, United state of america Would love to find out who placed that call. There should be some internet cowboy out there with the technology and persistence to chase it down. i can almost picture Mr President panicking, running for cover and then calling his army, navy etc. Shows that in Pakistan, heads of government are now not able to follow international norms while taking phone calls from their counterparts. Mr Zardari should have remembered he had just sent his Foreign Minister to India! If he forgets such basic facts, what credibility has he? Mike, London, UK There's nothing quite as destructive as paranoia. Shame we seem to have an over abundance of it these days. Udo, Melbourne, Australia If I was Prime Minister of Pakistan last thing I would do would be to get involved with India. The people with their fingers on the button are all bound to make a mistake east or west. There is nowhere else to go M Ali, Herts, Uk It was probably Peter Seelers ! Don Gill, Bromham, England This story seems to be more complex than is allowed for by your reporter. The Times of India online now: "But Pakistani information minister Sherry Rehman said in a statement the call "was placed from a verified official phone number of the Indian ministry of external affairs." Clayton Burns, Vancouver, Canada And these are the people with thier hands on the button. Though I am Indian I think Pakistan would have been criminally negligent not to go on alert minute India uttered the world "Pakistan". Ravi, Takoma Park, MD, USA Have your say Please note the maximum number of characters is 300.
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