Warning that “non-state actors” had the potential to precipitate a war in the region, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to “resist striking out” at his country “should investigations show that Pakistani militant groups were responsible for the attacks in Mumbai”.

Zardari told the Financial Times that his country should not be punished for the terror rampage in Mumbai. He warned that provocation by rogue “non-state actors” posed the danger of a return to war. “Even if the militants are linked to Lashkar-e-Toiba, who do you think we are fighting?” Zardari told the daily, referring to Pakistan’s operations against al-Qaeda and Taliban on the border with Afghanistan.

“We live in troubled times where non-state actors have taken us to war before, whether it is the case of those who perpetrated (the) 9/11 (attacks on the US) or contributed to the escalation of the situation in Iraq,” Zardari said. “Now, events in Mumbai tell us that there are ongoing efforts to carry out copycat attacks by militants. We must all stand together to fight out this menace.”

Meanwhile, US agencies, sources said, have confirmed that the terror mail, sent in the name of the Deccan Mujahideen claiming responsibility for the Mumbai attacks, originated from a Pakistan location. Sources said the multi-national probe — involving FBI, Scotland Yard and Israelis among others — will help build a “watertight case” and bring credibility to investigations.

Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik was summoned to South Block today and served a demarche on the involvement of “elements from Pakistan” in the attacks. Pakistan was again told to hand over terrorists, including Dawood Ibrahim and Maulana Masood Azhar and others who figure in India’s most-wanted list.

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