Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf today has said Pakistan’s armed forces will not start a war with India over Kashmir, but he said, “If war is thrust upon us, we will respond with full might.” He added, “The entire nation is with the armed forces and will shed the last drop of their blood but will not allow any harm to come to the motherland.” In the closely watched televised address, Musharraf also gave his open support for those resisting Indian rule in the mostly Muslim region of Kashmir. And Pakistan tested a third ballistic missile today.

In its first official response to Musharraf’s speech, the Indian foreign minister said the speech was dangerous and disappointing, and said it would only increase tension between the nuclear-armed countries. India has also accused Pakistan of harboring al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon says a new U.S. intelligence report has concluded a full-scale nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan could kill up to 12 million people immediately and injure up to 7 million. Officials say even a more limited nuclear war with fewer warheads would have cataclysmic results, overwhelming hospitals across Asia, requiring vast foreign assistance to battle radioactive contamination, famine and disease. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and the Russian deputy foreign minister are in Islamabad to try to jump-start negotiations between India and Pakistan. Washington is sending Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage to the region next week.