Islamabad: While ruling out a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, Chief of Pakistan's Air Force (PAF) has not dismissed a "sharp, swift and intense" fighting in "particular" areas along line of control (LoC) in Kashmir and other sectors of the border.

"This limited war will be sharp, swift and intense, but I do not see an all-out war. There has not been any armed conflict between India and Pakistan for the last nine months and it is because of the fear of the nuclear war," Air Chief Marshal Mushaf Ali Mir said at Sargodha Air base on September 7.

While the Pakistan government has decided to boost its military ties with China in future, it also looked forward to make substantial gains out of its good relations with US, he said.

President Pervez Musharraf, during his current visit to New York, would press for the delivery of F-16 fighter jets for which Pakistan paid money in late 1980s but failed to obtain them following sanctions.

Now that the sanctions were lifted following September 11 attacks on America and improvement in Pakistan's relations with US, he said, Islamabad looked forward to purchasing different kinds of arms from the US, including F-16 aircraft, and their spare parts.

Replying to a question on parity between PAF and Indian Air Force, Mir said, "at this moment, we do have a gap with India in terms of high-tech aircraft and certain technologically advanced weapons. But with the support of our nation and professional competence... we shall not allow this gap to increase beyond acceptable limits."

PTI