Pakistan rejects Indian Punjab militancy accusations

Published June 6, 2013
Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry briefing the media.—File Photo by APP
Foreign Office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry briefing the media.—File Photo by APP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday denied New Delhi's allegation that its spy agency was trying to recruit and train extremists to carry out attacks across the border in the Indian state of Punjab.

Indian home minister Sushilkumar Shinde leveled the accusation Wednesday that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) was pressuring Sikh militant leaders to target Punjab and other parts of India.

“Pakistan rejects those remarks accusing us and implicating one of our government agencies for fomenting terror in Indian Punjab,” said foreign ministry spokesman Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry.

“Such a statement in our view is uncalled for and regrettable. We feel that making such statement has the potential of undermining the efforts made by both sides to normalise the relations between the two countries.”

The Indian home minister had alleged that there had been “some significant development on the Sikh militancy front” and accused the ISI of seeking to further its “terror plans” in India.

Chaudhry urged Delhi to share any evidence it had of such involvement and said further accusations could harm already fragile ties.

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.