NEW DELHI, Oct 11 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday that India was not involved in fomenting trouble in Balochistan.
Replying to a question about Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik's statement that India was arming militants in Balochistan, Mr Singh said “This is entirely wrong.”
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, he said India was not in the business of “spreading” terror. “We have to make adequate preparations to deal with the consequences of this overflow of terrorism from the neighbourhood to our country,” Mr Singh said.
“We are taking all necessary steps in that direction but it is still my belief that particularly Pakistan and the people and government of Pakistan should realise the great harm and (their) patronisation of terror groups have done to the South Asian region,” he said.
“We need a neighbourhood of peace, friendliness and I will be the last one to say that, I think, if these conditions prevail (like) today in our neighbourhood in Pakistan and in Afghanistan the situation is not what it should be,” the prime minister responded when asked about Saturday's attack on Pakistan Army Headquarters and blast near the Indian embassy in Kabul.
“There has been effect (due to) the pressure exerted by us and the international community. For the first time, Pakistan agreed that the conspiracy leading to the tragedy in Mumbai was hatched in Pakistan and that the citizens of Pakistan were involved,” he said while responding to questions about Mumbai attacks.
“There should be a fair trial which will result in proper punishment. We have not lost hope,” he said.
Refusing to bracket Naxals with terrorists, Mr Singh said the government would not use force against them.
“They (Naxals) are banned organisations and are covered under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act,” he said.
Terming Naxalism as the greatest internal security threat, the prime minister said dialogue with them was possible only if they shunned violence. The government was also prepared to have a dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir, if they abjured violence, he said. —APP
