ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Tuesday that ceasefire violations by India along the Working Boundary and Line of Control were causing distraction in the fight against terrorism.

“The people of Pakistan see the escalation of tension by India on the Line of Control and Working Boundary, through continuous unprovoked firing and targeting of civilians, as an attempt to distract our armed forces from its valiant mission against all terrorists,” FO spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said.

She was responding to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman’s comments on US aid certification for Pakistan.

“India does not believe that Pakistan is showing ‘sustained commitment’ or making ‘significant effort’ or ceasing support or dismantling ‘bases of operations’ of the Laskhar-e-Taiba, Jaish-i-Muhammad, the Haqqani network and quite possibly the Al Qaeda,” the Indian spokesman had earlier said, while responding to reports about US certification for aid to Pakistan.

Ms Aslam not only rejected the Indian allegations, but also accused Delhi of deliberately hampering counter-terrorism operations by ratcheting up tensions along the LoC and Working Boundary.

Seven people, including two personnel of Rangers, have been killed in six ceasefire violations by Indian Border Security Forces since Jan 1. Retaliatory fire by Rangers has also caused casualties on the Indian side.

The baseless and preposterous Indian allegations regarding the so-called ‘terror boat’ from Pakistan are also in the same vein, the spokesperson further said.

Analysts believe that the latest escalation and exchange of barbs is related to the upcoming Pak-US strategic dialogue and visit of US President Barack Obama to India for attending the Republic Day ceremony.

Ms Aslam noted that Pakistan was the biggest victim of terrorism and the people and the government of Pakistan were determined to eliminate it.

“The brave armed forces of Pakistan are successfully conducting a comprehensive and across the board operation, Zarb-i-Azb, to root out terrorism,” she added.

The spokesperson cautioned India against driving a wedge between Pakistan and Afghanistan, saying that it was against international norms.

“India is reminded to refrain from attempts to create misunderstanding between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the two brotherly nations bound by common destiny, shared culture, history and religion. These efforts are also in violation of all international norms,” she added.

The Indian MEA spokesman had said: “Also with increasing citing of Punjabi/Urdu speaking elements operating with terrorist groups inside Afghanistan, we now also know that these very groups also pose a significant threat to members of the international community working in Afghanistan, including to Indian diplomatic personnel working in the Indian Embassy in Kabul and our four Consulates.”

These allegations are “equally baseless and malicious”, Ms Aslam said.

Published in Dawn, January 7th, 2015

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