BERLIN (Agencies) – Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that India is supporting terrorism in Pakistan, including in areas bordering Afghanistan.
In an interview with the German news agency DPA, Qureshi claimed that Pakistan was ‘compiling hard evidence of India’s involvement and interference in Balochistan and FATA’.
Qureshi urged India to ‘refrain from such nefarious activities’, adding ‘unless (India) dispenses with its visceral animosity towards Pakistan, attaining viable peace and security in South Asia will be even more elusive’, he added.
The accusation came two weeks after a joint Press conference by Information Minister Qamara Zaman Kaira and Army spokesperson Major-General Athar Abbas during which they disclosed that Pakistan had concrete evidence of Indian involvement in the South Waziristan militancy. Abbas told the newsmen that a huge quantity of Indian arms and ammunition, medical equipment and medicines used by Taliban militants had been recovered from the restive district.
Hundreds have died in bomb attacks and raids carried out by the insurgents as well as by retaliatory actions by the countryÂ’s military and paramilitary troops.
Qureshi noted that India was reluctant to resume peace dialogue even though the seven Mumbai massacre accused belonging to LeT were being prosecuted in Pakistan. The trial against them ‘has now begun and we are pursuing it more vigorously, it is a very complex trial having both internal and external dimensions’, Qureshi added.
“New Delhi should support Islamabad in its efforts against terrorists who have killed thousands of people in several suicide bombings and other strikes across Pakistan,” the FM said. “We believe that sustained engagement and result-oriented dialogue is necessary,” said Qureshi.
“Breakdown of dialogue only works to the advantage of those who do not want to see peace in the region. There is no other alternative. It is for India to respond and reciprocate,” he said, adding “Pakistan stands ready to resume the Composite Dialogue anytime for lasting peace with India.”
On Friday, Foreign Minister asked India to open its eyes and take notice of terrorism in Pakistan. “India should not remain oblivious to this situation. We are facing Mumbai-like incidents daily. India should review the facts,” he added. “In my opinion Pakistan’s mindset is constructive as it took immediate steps to improve the atmosphere after Mumbai incident. Now the ball is in India’s court and she has to decide what she wants in future,” he maintained.
