Islamabad, Jan 12 (IANS) A key aide of Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has ruled out a war with India in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror strikes, and said the two countries and their people cannot afford another conflict.”I don’t see any chances of war. Both (India and Pakistan) want peace in the region that is imperative for the development of their people,” Advisor on the Interior Rehman Malik was quoted here by television channels as saying in London after meeting with Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Altaf Hussain, who stays there in exile.

Malik is in London to meet the British officials on the tension in the region, official sources said. He is scheduled to meet Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to share Pakistan’s response to Indian dossier of evidences on the Mumbai attacks.

Reports said that Malik, while talking journalists in London, stressed the need for joint efforts by Pakistan and India to fight terrorism and said that Islamabad is willing to fully cooperate with New Delhi on this.

He said terrorism was damaging to both Pakistan and India and the two countries need to work together to overcome this menace. He expressed confidence that the present government will be able to drive the country out of its present difficulties.