ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: In a reaction to Indian government’s statement regarding the situation in Balochistan province, Pakistan on Monday told India to mind its own business and focus on putting its own house in order.

“India should focus on putting its own house in order rather than commenting on the internal affairs of other countries,” was Pakistan’s loud and clear message to its neighbour.

In a strong rebuttal to the statement of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman, Pakistan Foreign Office said: “The statement is not only against the well-established norms of inter-state relations but also a blatant interference in the internal affairs of a neighbouring country.”

Rejecting the Indian statement and reminding India of its own festering internal problems, the Foreign Office spokesperson noted in a strongly worded statement: “India’s purported concern for the peoples of other countries is ill-advised especially when India remains afflicted with several insurgencies including in Arunchal Paradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Bundel Khand, Gorkhaland, Bodoland and Khaplang, which are being suppressed by force.”

Pakistan’s advice to the Indian government was: “Instead of oppression and use of force, India should politically address grievances and aspirations of the peoples of these areas.”—Q.A.

Jawed Naqvi adds from New Delhi: India on Monday described as unfortunate the killing of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and said military force could never solve Pakistan’s political problems.

“The unfortunate killing of the veteran Baloch leader, Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, is a tragic loss to the people of Balochistan and Pakistan,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

“This military attack in which two of his grandsons were also killed and the heavy casualties in the continuing military operations in Balochistan underline the need for peaceful dialogue to address the grievances and aspirations of people of Balochistan. Military force can never solve political problems.”

The spokesman, speaking in response to questions, said Mr Bugti played a prominent role in Pakistani politics for over four decades. “His death leaves a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.”