NEW DELHI : India's defence minister said Tuesday that his country was not readying for military action against Pakistan in retaliation for last month's militant attacks in Mumbai.

The minister, however, did highlight the prospect of a serious deterioration in relations between the two nuclear-armed rivals if Pakistan failed to take action against the plotters of the attacks.

"We are not planning any military action," A.K. Antony told reporters.

But he added that "unless Pakistan takes action against those terrorists who are operating from its soil and against India, and also against all those who are behind the Mumbai terrorist attacks, things will not be normal."

"We have to think about the safety of our people. I cannot say what course of action we will take, but unless Pakistan shows sincerity in what they are saying, things will not be as usual," he added.

Last month's attacks in Mumbai killed 172 people and wounded nearly 300 others. Indian officials say the militants were trained and sent by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group.

- AFP/vm