Pakistan more deserving of action than Iraq-India

Pakistan more deserving of action than Iraq-India

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NEW DELHI, April 9 (Reuters) - India said on Wednesday it believed there was a stronger case for military action against Pakistan than Iraq.

External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told parliament that Pakistan possessed weapons of mass destruction, a reason cited by Washington to wage war on Iraq, and harboured terror groups.

Pakistan denies Indian claims that it supports what New Delhi calls "cross-border terrorism" by sending militants to join a separatist revolt in disputed Kashmir.

"I genuinely believe that if possession of weapons of mass destruction, absence of democracy and export of terrorism are the criteria, then no country deserves more than Pakistan to be tackled," Sinha said.

He added, however, there may have been a "misunderstanding" of previous remarks he had made on the subject, which had been taken by some analysts to mean he was threatening Indian military action against Pakistan.

Tensions between the two neighbours have risen since the killing of 24 Hindus last month by suspected Muslim rebels in Indian Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan.

Islamabad denied involvement.