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Sunday, October 06, 2013
India given proofs of role in Balochistan: Pakistan* Foreign secretary says Islamabad wants settlement of all issues with New Delhi through talks
* Mullah Baradar not being handed over to any country
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said on Saturday evidence of Indian interference in Balochistan has been presented to New Delhi and it should step ahead for dialogue rather than indulging in blame game.
Speaking to reporters, the foreign secretary said that the issue of Indian interference in Balochistan had been raised at relevant forums.
He said Pakistan wanted negotiated settlement of all outstanding issues with India, including Kashmir, and urged New Delhi to come to the negotiating table instead of levelling allegations against Islamabad. To a question, he said there is no substitute to dialogue for resolving the problems and the differences could be ironed out through talks. Issues with India should be sorted out through talks, he added.
“We have apprised India of our concerns on terrorism. If India has apprehensions about Pakistan then we have more apprehensions than India. But the problems don’t stand addressed through blame game. They can be resolved through sincerity and good intent. If problems are sorted out through talks, it is far better. The prime minister has used every forum with reference to it. Credible evidence on Indian involvement in terrorism in Balochistan are available with us. We have provided these evidence to whom these were to be provided,” the foreign secretary said. However, Jilani said that the matter of seizure of Indian weapons in Karachi was not in his knowledge.
“We will raise all the issues, including Kashmir, water and terrorism, with India on all forums,” he added. Jilani said that Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would also take up the issue of drone attacks in his meeting with United States President Barack Obama, being held in this month and at all other forums.
“Drone strikes issue is most vital of all issues. The prime minister hinted at drone strikes during his address in UN in New York and took up this matter with leaders of international community at different levels and expressed his concern,” the foreign secretary said.
He said that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had also expressed his concern over drone attacks in Pakistan.
He said that the release of Mullah Baradar was part of the Afghan reconciliation process and he was not being handed over to any country.
“It is our desire that Afghan Taliban become part of peace talks and the release of Mullah Baradar is part of reconciliation process.”
He added Mullah Baradar was set free as a gesture of goodwill. Afghanistan and the United States believe Mullah Baradar, who has been held in Pakistan since 2010, holds the key to stopping the war in Afghanistan because he is influential enough to persuade his former comrades there to stop fighting.
According to the foreign secretary, it was Pakistan’s desire that ties with Bangladesh go from good to better. agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk