World | Pakistan
Islamabad voices concern over Indian 'interference'
Pakistan yesterday advised India to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs and warned that such an attitude could pollute the atmosphere for the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
- By Shahid Hussain, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 January 3, 2006
Islamabad: Pakistan yesterday advised India to refrain from interfering in its internal affairs and warned that such an attitude could pollute the atmosphere for the ongoing peace process between the two countries.
Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam voiced the unease while reacting once again to a recent statement by an Indian external affairs ministry spokesman who talked about "spiralling violence" in Balochistan province and asked Islamabad to exercise restraint.
The Indian remarks were resented by Pakistani authorities and also sparked hints of India involving in aiding anti-state elements in Balochistan who have been targetting military personnel and committing acts of sabotage.
Tasnim Aslam curtly asked India to "mind its own business" and cautioned that statements like the one made by the Indian spokesman were tantamount to interference in the internal affairs of other countries."
Outbursts
She said such outbursts tended to vitiate the atmosphere "we worked so hard to build for sustaining the bilateral peace process to find a just solution to the Kashmir issue."
About Balochistan government's assessment of involvement of foreign hands, the spokeswoman said: "Yes there are indications and evidences," which she declined to elaborate.
Discussion
The spokeswoman said options of self-governance for Kashmir were currently under discussion between Pakistan and India and would be made public at the right time.
On the visit of a delegation of from Indian Kashmir of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, the spokeswoman said involvement and interaction of Kashmiri leaders in the context of moving the peace process forward was a "welcome sign."
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