September 26, 2002	Thursday	Rajab 18, 1423

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 25: Pakistan said on Wednesday India’s allegations that Pakistan planned an attack on a Hindu temple in Gujarat state were irresponsible and would only heighten tension in the region.

“These are highly irresponsible statements,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan told Reuters.

He was referring to a statement earlier on Wednesday by Indian Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, accusing Pakistan of planning Tuesday’s attack.

“These accusations are ridiculous,” Khan said.

Two gunmen opened fire and hurled grenades at people in the vast temple complex in Gujarat on Tuesday night, killing 29 people and wounding more than 70.

One Indian commando was killed during a later assault and two policemen died of their wounds, police said, bringing the total death toll, including the two gunmen, to 33.

Advani cited a speech by President Pervez Musharraf to the UN General Assembly this month in which he referred to Gujarat.

“This indicates they had planned this for sometime,” Advani said.

Khan said India was in the habit of rushing to conclusions and accusing Pakistan of anything happening in India even without holding a preliminary inquiry.

“Such baseless accusations will only add to heightened tensions,” Khan said. He urged India to pay attention to improving its law and order situation rather than laying blame at the door of Pakistan.

“We have strongly condemned this reprehensible attack because it was mounted on a place of worship,” Khan added.