ISLAMABAD: Former Interior Minister Senator Rehman Malik urged the government on Friday to take strict action against Jundullah and other terrorist organisations operating in Balochistan and other areas of the country.

Mr Malik was talking to Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman during a meeting with him at the latter’s residence here. He expressed solidarity with the JUI-F leader who survived a suicide attack in Quetta on Thursday.

Senator Malik accused India of fomenting terrorism in Balochistan and said the government should take serious notice of such activities.

“The government should disclose the reality of Jund­ullah and which foreign country is behind it? It must call a joint session of both houses of parliament to inform us and the people about the group.”

The senator termed the terrorist attack on Maulana Fazl an assault on Pakistan.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Senator Malik also condemned recent terrorist attacks on members of the Shia Hazara community.

He said the community was the most oppressed in the country and had been target of heinous attacks since long. “The atrocities committed on the Hazaras and their deaths cannot be forgiven, nor can we remain silent on it,” he said.

“Ongoing attacks of terrorists in Balochistan are worrying because they are aimed at destabilising the country and India is behind the terrorists’ activities in the province,” he said.

Senator Malik said the Indian involvement was evident from the recent anti-Pakistan statements of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian forces’ aggression along the Line of Control.

“If peace is disrupted in the region, the entire responsibility will fall squarely on the shoulders of the Indian prime minister,” he said, adding that by issuing anti-Pakistan sentiments Mr Modi was putting the region in danger.

Published in Dawn, October 25th , 2014