Indian hand in Balochistan unrest to be exposed

By Myra Imran

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said the government would disclose evidence regarding India’s involvement in Balochistan diplomatically at the right time.

He was talking to journalists after delivering a speech on the ìRelationship with the Neighbouring Countries — India and Afghanistan,î to the Youth Parliament Pakistan.

The minister said during the meeting between two prime ministers in Sharm el-Sheikh, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani effectively raised the issue of threats in Balochistan.

To a question about induction of over 1,000 Marines by the US embassy into Islamabad, the minister said: “The US embassy is reinforcing its personnel for strengthening its security.” He said it should be taken as a message from the US that it wanted long-term relationship with Pakistan.

Earlier, the minister answered comprehensively the tricky queries by Youth Parliament members and explained the challenges faced by the country on the diplomatic front and strategies adopted by the government to improve its relationship with its neighbours.

He said Pakistan had been seeking to develop ties with India based on equality, mutual respect and non-interference.

“We are convinced that the composite dialogue process provides the framework for discussion on all outstanding issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.”

Terming it diplomatic success, Qureshi said the joint statement issued at the conference recognised the need of separating terrorism from the peace dialogue between the two countries.

“This statement is a shift from the position adopted by the Indian government after the Mumbai attacks,” he noted.

He said issues of water, security and terrorism had been forcefully raised with India in interactions at all levels.

He urged the international community to play a role in ensuring that the composite dialogue process was restarted.

Commenting on Pakistan-Afghan relations, the minister said unstable Afghanistan would continue to export extremism, narcotics and instability across the vast Asian landmass, and beyond. He said stable Afghanistan would allow the trans-regional corridors of energy and infrastructure to emerge.

About the Kashmir issue, he said Pakistan’s stance was very clear that the will of the Kashmiri people should prevail.