New Delhi: India has taken serious note of the recent statements of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf on his country's nuclear capability, which it feels he may be using to build up a case for a pre- emptive strike against India.

Government sources, who have read "more than the usual" anti-India rhetoric in Musharraf's recent statements including the one accusing New Delhi of playing "dangerous" games in Pakistan, Kashmir and Afghanistan, feel that it is the General's latest "propaganda innovation" against India.

"They must know that we can retaliate in a big way and they should know that," Musharraf had told a Canadian newspaper 'Toronto Star'.

"They (Indians) should never presume that they can do things and they can go unchecked," he had said adding that the "risk of full-fledged conflict with India can never be ruled out on South Asia".

"However, what is dangerous is whether there will be a conflict between India and Pakistan which can then lead on to a nuclear exchange," he had said.

Musharraf's latest threatening references to his country's nuclear capability give an impression that the "General's fingers are restive to press the button on the slightest pretext", the sources said.

They noted that Musharraf has threatened a number of times, and subsequently denied, to use the nuclear bomb "if war was imposed on Pakistan".

Musharraf had also sought to allay apprehensions of Pakistanis who feared that their country could be the next target of the US after Iraq, telling them that Pakistan was not Iraq and that they should not forget that "it is a nuclear power".

The sources said Musharraf's aggressive postures could be related to his coming under intense pressure from hardliners and religious groups in Pakistan and US and its allies voicing their frustration over his failure to curb al-Qaida and Taleban.

Washington is well aware of Afghan concerns over regrouping of al-Qaida and Taleban with the tacit support of the Pakistani establishment.

The Pakistani intrusion in Kargil, even though unsuccessful, had helped Musharraf at that point of time in ensuring partial acceptance of his coup against the civilian government of Nawaz Sharif, they pointed out.

Terming as "comic" Musharraf's remarks about India playing dangerous games, the sources said, "Pakistan, internationally known to be the cradle of global terrorism and its ISI known for its Machiavellian domestic and external role, needs no outside enemies. There was absolutely no need for India or any other country to play any such game in Pakistan.

PTI