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Pakistan rejects Indian comment on Balochistan
ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: The Foreign Office on Tuesday rejected an Indian statement about events in Balochistan as âunwarranted and baselessâ, APP reports.India often shows an unacceptable proclivity to interfere in the internal affairs of its neighbours, Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam said after the Indian Ministry of External Affairs released a statement expressing concern about the âspiralling violenceâ in Balochistan. Such a tendency is contrary to efforts aimed at building an environment of trust, peace and stability in South Asia, Aslam said. âThe statement is all the more surprising from the spokesman of India, a country that has long tried to suppress the freedom struggle of the Kashmiri people and has a record of systematic and serious human rights violation in the Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir,â she said. The âheavy-handed methodsâ and use of force to quell unrest in the north east of India and the widespread violence afflicting many of its parts âare well known and need no commentâ, she said. âWe are also intrigued by this provocative statement at this time when the two countries are engaged in the peace process to address all issues including the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,â Aslam said. âThe statement tends to vitiate the current atmosphere of improved relations that accords with the wishes of the peoples of the two countries,â she added. Iftikhar Gilani adds: Earlier, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said India had been monitoring developments in Balochistan and asked Pakistan to âexercise restraintâ. âThe government of India has been watching with concern the spiralling violence in Balochistan and the heavy military action, including the use of helicopter gunships and jet fighters by the government of Pakistan to quell it,â Sarna said. âWe hope that the government of Pakistan will exercise restraint and take recourse to peaceful discussions to address the grievances of the people of Balochistan,â he said. Posted by: john 2005-12-27 |
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