NEW DELHI, Jan 12: Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday that Pakistan was going through an unpredictable phase but he had faith in the people and the system to navigate the crisis.

“I do hope they will overcome this crisis,” Mr Mukherjee told CNN-IBN news channel. “We shall have to keep in mind that in different places there have been different type of problems in the history of Pakistan but some how or the other the people of Pakistan and the system there, they have managed the situation,” he said.

Asked if he believed President Pervez Musharraf faced the danger of being removed by the army, he said there was an element of unpredictability.

“Only future can show what course of action will be taken by the establishment or the people of Pakistan. It is not predictable...an element of unpredictability is there but I can't say the situation will turn around in a positive manner,” he said.

On ties with China, Mr Mukherjee said Chinese incursions have taken place “sometimes” across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that separates their troops but felt there was no need to press any “panic button”.

“There is nothing to be worried of at this point of time and the mechanisms which we have are doing well,” Mukherjee told CNN-IBN ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's maiden visit to China that begins Sunday.

“Sometimes incursions take place. We immediately take it up. Mechanisms have been established through which we address these types of problems,” he said.

Asked whether the frequency or the number of incursions have increased, he said, “It is not unusual (but) it has not suddenly increased.”

Questioned about concerns expressed by senior Indian army generals on the development of infrastructure on the Chinese side of the Sino-India border in Arunachal Pradesh, Mr Mukherjee said it was a “known fact” that their infrastructure in terms of road, electricity and availability of other facilities “is much superior to that on our side.”

The former defence minister made it clear that there was no question of India letting down its vigilance. “But at the same time, the situation that is prevailing right now on the border and along the LAC, there is no need of pressing any panic button. Peace and tranquillity are being retained there.”