McCain predicts India-Pakistan war

Defeated US presidential candidate John McCain has hinted that a war between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan is in the offing.

"The Indians are on the verge of some kind of attack on Pakistan," Senator McCain told The Daily Courier, a daily newspaper in his home state Arizona.

"I think it's a very dicey situation," he said. "We're going to be in for a very difficult time there."

McCain's remarks came amid efforts in Islamabad and New Delhi to work toward peace and de-escalation of tensions in South Asia.

Earlier this month, Senator McCain visited both New Delhi and Islamabad as part of US efforts to avert any standoff between the two neighboring countries.

US, British and Indian officials blame Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) for the last month's Mumbai carnage, resulting in a sharp rise in hostile rhetoric between the two neighbors.

The tensions have been relieved to some extent following efforts by Indian and Pakistani leaders as well as regional initiatives by countries such as China and Iran.