|
India condemns Bugti's killing
In a remarkably strong statement, India has slammed Pakistan for the killing of iconic Baloch rebel Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti.In the statement released by the foreign office, New Delhi called the killing a tragic loss to the people of Balochistan and Pakistan. The description of Balochistan as a separate entity is bound to anger Islamabad. The statement goes on to say that military operations in Balochistan underline the need for a peaceful dialogue and that military force can never solve political problems. It further adds that Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti played a prominent role in Pakistani politics for over four decades and that his death leaves a vacuum that will be difficult to fill. The MEA statement comes at a time when relations between the two countries are already strained. India had accused Pakistan of having a hand in the Mumbai blasts and Pakistan has in the past accused India of backing the separatist violence in Balochistan. Meanwhile, the opposition in Pakistan has also joined in the protests against Bugti's killing and called for a one-day nationwide strike. However, President Pervez Musharraf has said army operations in the region will continue. Perhaps to stem the rising criticism, the Pakistani establishment is also now saying that Bugti was killed accidentally. "It was never our intention to harm him physically. What happened yesterday was something of not government's own doing. The land mines, which exploded, caused this explosion to bring down the cave. But certainly, it was not our intention to kill him," said Tariq Azim, Pakistan Deputy Information Minister. Balochistan has sparked off a new round of tension in the Indo-Pak relations. By saying military force cannot solve a political issue, New Delhi is using Pakistan's rhetoric on Kashmir to beat Islamabad. Posted by: john 2006-08-28 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=164328 |