| The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Thursday dismissed as baseless a statement made by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik, in which he had said that TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud had connections with India. The TTP said Malik's statement was absolutely unfounded and that it was an attempt to malign the Taliban. Talking to the media from an undisclosed location, TTP spokesman Maulvi Umer said Malik's statement alleging that the Taliban had links with India and were getting financial assistance from the country was deplorable and silly and was not based on facts. They said Mehsud had no connections with India and was not receiving any financial aid from it. The spokesman said the TTP came into existence in the name of jihad and its aim was to fight a holy war against India and the United States forces in Afghanistan. Maulvi Umer said the TTP had damaged India's interests in Afghanistan in many actions. He said the TTP could not even think of taking financial assistance from India, an enemy, to create chaos and law and order problems in Pakistan. The spokesman said India was the worst enemy of Pakistan. He said a responsible person like Rehman Malik should avoid issuing statements that were not based on facts as such statements were not in the interests of Pakistan. |