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The statement was made in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.

In a front-page story Monday, the Times of India reported Zardari's statement had "warmed the cockles of Indian hearts as much as it has created a ruckus in his own country."

The report said this is the first time a top Pakistani leader has "dared to state this in public and vindicate the stand of the Indian establishment."

"India has never been a threat to Pakistan. I, for one, and our democratic government is not scared of Indian influence abroad", the Press Trust of India quoted Zardari as telling the Journal.

The PTI reported Zardari also told the Journal he had no objection to the India-U.S. civilian nuclear deal so long as Pakistan is treated "at par."

The BBC reported that in his Journal interview, Zardari also appeared to acknowledge that his government has given consent to U.S. airstrikes in Pakistan.

The Times of India quoted Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chairman of Pakistan's parliamentary committee on Kashmir, as criticizing Zaradari for his statements.

"Zardari is our president but he is inexperienced and needs to know the right choice of words", Rehman said.

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