Sunday, February 20 2005 19:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Amritsar: India does not want war with Pakistan at any cost as war does not solve any problem between the two neighbours, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today (Feb 20, 2005) said.

"Wars always bring disaster and misery. India has already experienced wars with Pakistan in 1965, 1971 and then Kargil which brought no fruit," he said addressing an election rally at Ajnala which is going to bypolls on February 23.

"Now both nations want peace, tranquility for their masses which can bring development and flourishment at their border towns and bring industrialisation," he said.

He said the Union Government was committed to speed up industrialisation in Punjab and give full cooperation to the State in setting up of Special Economic Zone in the border town of Amritsar to help masses who have suffered the impact of wars the most with the Pakistan in the past.

The Minister said the Central Government would provide all help to make Amritsar a hub of business activities.

Hailing the ongoing bilateral peace dialogue between the two countries, he said the economic condition of the masses of the bordering towns of Pakistan will improve significantly.