India, Pakistan keep a lid on tensions. Political and economic realities mean there is little chance of a military standoff or full-blown war between the longtime rivals, analysts say.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-fg-indiapakistan6-2008dec06,0,1645432.story
Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan, and New Delhi — Hostility between India and Pakistan is at its worst in years, but tensions stemming from last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai are unlikely to bloom into full-blown war between the nuclear-armed rivals — at least for now, according to analysts on both sides of the border.
But a combination of new political and economic realities, U.S. pressure and perhaps some lessons learned in the past have inhibited a rush to open conflict.
Any war would be financially devastating, especially at a time of worldwide economic downturn.
“No one can afford it,” said Abhay Matkar, a former Indian army major in Mumbai. “Both countries are not ready for war, and it will not happen.”
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