Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

'Pak trying to show India hand in Balochistan'

Last updated on: December 03, 2009 14:45 IST

Hitting out at Pakistan, India said on Thursday that its western neighbour was "striving hard to fabricate" evidence to show India was fomenting trouble in Balochistan. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told the Rajya Sabha that India has conveyed to Pakistan at the highest level that it had no interest in destabilising the neighbouring country and was not involved in any activity there. "We have never interfered in Balochistan," he said replying to questions.

Referring to statements by Pakistani leaders alleging Indian interference in Balochistan, he said, "The government has firmly rejected such unfounded allegations. Pakistan has not been able to marshal any evidence on India's involvement in problems in Balochistan," he said.

Statements by Pakistan's Foreign Minister that Islamabad is compiling hard evidence against India and that it would disclose India's involvement at right time when read together indicate that "Pakistan is striving hard to fabricate evidence of India's involvement in Balochistan," he said.

"The government has firmly rejected, including at the highest level, such unfounded allegations (of India's involvement in Balochistan). The Indian PM had told the Prime Minister of Pakistan that India has no interest in destabilising Pakistan and that our conduct is an open book," he said. Asked if Pakistan has provided any evidence to indicate India's involvement in Balochistan, he said, "Not even a shred of it. Nothing has been heard from Pakistan (on the evidence it was going to provide)," he said. 
   
On Sharm-el-Sheikh joint declaration mentioning Balochistan, Krishna said the Prime Minister has stated that "India's position is an open book and we stand committed to that statement." He said composite dialogue with Pakistan will not be resumed till Pakistan moves in a transparent manner to bring to book the culprits of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. "Unless those involved in Mumbai terror attacks are brought to justice, India will not be in a position to resume composite dialogue," he added.

© Copyright 2024 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.