ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday reiterated that India has been interfering, through Afghanistan, into Pakistan, saying that he himself had asked his Indian counterpart to stop New Delhi’s involvement in backing terrorist activities.
“Fact was already brought to notice in writing with the joint statement issued after my meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Sharm el Sheikh,” he told media after a function on Human Rights Day here.

When inquired regarding the prevailing controversy between Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Foreign Affairs over Indian involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan, Premier Gilani categorically stated that he personally warned his Indian counterpart about heinous Indian involvement in Pakistan through Afghanistan.

He also mentioned the statements of US officials, saying that they would talk to India in this regard. “As far as the evidence is concerned, it is the government and military’s prerogative to when and where provide them,” he added.

Gilani dispelled rumours of government’s instability and said, “We have been given the mandate of five years and others should wait for this term to complete.”

Asked whether the government would take any action against those who confined the missing persons illegally, Gilani said that so far one phase of recovery was underway while action on the next would be decided later. He termed the recovery of missing persons as his government’s “major achievement”. 

LAHORE – Interior Minister Rehman Malik reiterated on Tuesday that India was involved in acts of terrorism in Pakistan, and the government would come up with proofs at appropriate time.

Talking to media at Jinnah Hospital on Thursday, he said seizing of four trucks loaded with Indian-made weapons at Bara on Wednesday was a testimony to Indian involvement in fuelling terrorism. Without naming any country, the Interior Minister said a few ambassadors were also involved in providing arms and ammunition to the militants, but according to Geneva Convention, the government could not take any action against them. He said Pakistan had urged major world powers to take up this matter seriously.

He said Pakistan would retaliate with full force against any country, including India, if it was found conspiring against the country. Such a country would be exposed at all world fora, he added.

Malik said Pakistan had informed the USA about Indian involvement in Balochistan.

He said suicide bombers were Pakistanis but foreign powers were using them to advance their agenda in Pakistan. “We should find out traitors from amongst ourselves,” he said, adding “Unless we put our own house in order, things would not improve.”

He said it was time that all political forces should get united and think above politics. He said all sections of the society should condemn terrorism, as had been done by ulema in Karachi and Lahore. He said the country was at war at the moment and law-enforcement agencies were doing their best to control the situation.

When asked about arrest of foreigners from Sargodha which also included five Americans, the Interior Minister replied that his ministry had sought a report from Punjab Government in this regard.

To a question about Hafiz Saeed, the minister said Pakistan would follow its Constitution and rules and would not accept any dictation from any country in this regard. He, however, made it clear Pakistan would not allow its soil to be used to carry out terrorist activities against any country. He said if India had any proof of Pakistan soil being used by terrorists, it should share the information with Pakistan.

He grilled India for not awarding punishment to the culprits involved in Samjhota train blast, saying that 65 Pakistanis killed in the incident were also human beings like those who had lost their lives in Mumbai attack. Their families too protest in Islamabad to seek justice but India was not interested in exposing real culprits, he said, adding the only reason why the major suspect Colonel Prohit was not being apprehended was that he was an Indian.

Responding to a question about drone attacks, Malik said the government was opposed to these attacks and all the four provincial assemblies, the Senate and the National Assembly had passed resolutions against these intrusions by the US forces. He urged US being a champion of democracy should respect the voice of Pakistan’s democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, addressing an ulema moot here, Rehman Malik ruled out presence of any US terrorist in Pakistan, saying that those talking of presence of Blackwater should come up with proof. He said 411 US diplomats were allowed in Pakistan out of which only 289 were present at the moment, and were occupying 179 houses which is less than the legal number of houses that they can occupy. He said the US could occupy more if they desired so.

All major players of the Government of Pakistan now blame the Indians (aka Bhartis) for the terror attacks on Pakistan. The Foreign Minister’s claims come on the heels of the statements of Prime Minister Gilani and and even Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi addresses the press.— Photo from AFP/File Pakistan Six accused in Mumbai case seek acquittal Six accused in Mumbai case seek acquittal  ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan was not involved in Mumbai terror attacks.  However, Islamabad has substantial evidence to prove India’s involvement in terror activities in the country. In an interview with an Arab television, Mr Qureshi said the international community supported Pakistan’s stand that it was not involved in the Mumbai attacks. 

‘Now it has been admitted worldwide that Pakistan was above question with regard to the Mumbai terror incident,’ the foreign minister said. 

He reiterated that there was concrete evidence to prove New Delhi’s hand in terror activities in Pakistan.  He said Mumbai attacks had been plotted by elements who wished to sabotage Pakistan-India relations.  ‘Economic progress is vital to counter extremism in the region,’ he added. The foreign minister urged international community to make India realise that there was no option other than talks to establish peace in the region.—APP. India behind terrorist attacks, says Qureshi Monday, 14 Dec, 2009 CIA contracted Blackwater to take out A.Q.Khan: Then they ask ‘why they hate us’  Tags: shah mehmood qureshi,mumbai attacks