ISLAMABAD, Jan 5: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Thursday held India responsible for the continuing unrest in Balochistan and said the government had decided to take ‘stern’ action against those involved in anti-state activities in the province.

Talking to reporters following a meeting with Baloch tribal leaders, the minister said that “India is supporting the miscreants” in Balochistan. These outlaws, he added, were involved in terrorist activities and creating hindrance in the implementation of the mega-development package announced by President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

“The reaction of the neighbouring country over the action of Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies against the miscreants is clear evidence that they are being backed by India,” he maintained.

He said that arms were being smuggled into Balochistan from Wana, Musa Khel and Kandahar and absconders and criminals from other provinces were reaching Kohlu to have a safe refuge. “These absconders are also being used by the miscreants’ groups in anti-state activities.”

“The government will not hold any dialogue with those who are bent upon destroying national assets, hampering development activities in Balochistan and committing terrorism,” the minister said, adding “rather the government has decided to take a stern action against them because it wants to resolve the problems of the majority of people and expedite development activities in the province.”

He said the government had tried its best to resolve the Balochistan issue through dialogue but added that the situation could not improve if dialogue and agreements were violated by tribal leaders.

In reply to a question, he said 9 to 10 absconders’ camps had been detected in Kohlu.

He rejected reports of army action in the province, saying no operation was being conducted there and only Levies and Rangers were being used to counter anti-state activities.

Mr Sherpao ruled out the possibility of erecting a fence at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, saying more check-posts were being established there to stop gunrunning and movement of terrorists across the border.

Referring to his meeting with some leaders of the Bugti and Marri tribes, he said those leaders had endorsed the government efforts for ensuring development and prosperity in the province.

“The leaders of the two tribes informed us that majority of the people in Balochistan live in slavery of feudal lords who have always opposed development activities in the province,” he said, adding that these leaders had confirmed that not a single civilian had been killed by law-enforcement agencies in Kohlu.

The minister denied reports about carpet-bombing and use of poisonous gas by law-enforcement agencies in the troubled area.

The tribal leaders, he pointed out, had invited non-governmental organizations and human right activists to visit Kohlu and see the situation for themselves.

The leaders who called on the minister were Ghulam Qadir Bugti, Hamadan Bugti, Mir Mohabat Khan Bijarani, Haji Mir Bahar Khan, Sardar Inayatullah and Mir Baz Khan.