Pakistan

Islamabad hints at RAW’s involvement in Quetta carnage

Foreign elements may be working with local militants, says FO spokesperson

Kamran Yousaf August 12, 2016

Foreign elements may be working with local militants, says FO spokesperson. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday indicated that India’s premier intelligence agency RAW might have collaborated with local militant groups to carry out the latest terrorist attack in Quetta, which left 76 people dead on Monday.

“Involvement of foreign elements working in cahoots with their local contacts in the condemnable terrorist attack in Quetta, which took a huge toll on the lives of innocent people, cannot be ruled out,” said the Foreign Office spokesperson at the weekly press briefing in Islamabad.

Army chief terms Quetta attack bid to undermine Zarb-e-Azb success

Nafees Zakaria was responding to a question regarding the statement by the Balochistan chief minister that RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) was behind the deadly Quetta bombing.

The FO spokesperson said Indian intelligence agencies remained involved in subversive and terrorist activities in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and Karachi.

“The confessional statement by a serving [Indian] naval officer, who was apprehended by our law enforcement agencies has indeed vindicated Pakistan’s claim. The confession has led to significant success in rounding up elements of the network,” he added.

The FO statements come as tensions between the two nuclear armed neighbours are rising over the latest spike of unrest in Indian Kashmir.

Kashmir violence

FO’s Zakaria also dismissed Indian claims of cross-LoC infiltration. “Pakistan remains committed to the policy of not allowing its territory for any terrorist activity against anyone,” he insisted.

Quetta blast & a confused chorus

The PM’s foreign affairs adviser has written a letter to the Arab League secretary-general, seeking his attention to the brutalities in Indian Kashmir, Zakaria said, adding the adviser underscored that India had unleashed a reign of terror against innocent and defenceless civilians since the extrajudicial killing of a Kashmiri leader Burhan Wani on July 8.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (20)

SAMPATHKUMAR V S | 8 years ago | Reply @Rehmat Ali: The fears of Akhand Bharath in India or in neighbouring countries is unfounded. My understanding is, it has more to realise and appreciate common identity of Bharatiya race irrespective of one's converted faith or traditional faith, be in India or outside in South Asia. The mindset of westerners of yesteryears of supremacy or hegemony cannot be superimposed on the concept of Akhanda Bharat and then call it devilish. Whatever divisions had happened politically, let us accept and work together and walk together, without bad will in the collective spirit of progress of all South Asians. This is the true spirit of Akhanda Bharath. Politicians attribute motive and everyone mistake this simple concept.

Shuaib | 8 years ago | Reply @SKChadha: Well, after accepting India is behind it, there is nothing left really. If Pakistan is a cheat, India is too.

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Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply very good, i found Indian media and politicians start accusing Pakistan even before the initial investigations, and now Indians commenting here cannot believe that RAW could be blamed as well, unlike India, we never blamed RAW for every attack unless we find hints of their involvement, did we accused India After APS, Safoora, Iqbal park incident, but provide me one incident where India did not accused ISI??? if we never accuse RAW and this time if things hints towards RAW why Indian are unhappy? why don't u ask ur media and government to stop blaming Pakistan after every attack. you all r ok with that...why???

otherMan | 8 years ago | Reply @Ish, @ Balachandar remember that Kalboshan yadev, he admitted carrying out these kind of attacks in Pakistan.

SKChadha | 8 years ago | Reply Presuming and not admitting, that RAW is behind this carnage. Even then whether Pakistan has any locus standi to cry on this, despite its cold shoulder about incidences like 26/11, Pathankot, Kargil and recent interference in J&K despite commitment in 'Simla Agreement' ..??

Lovehate | 8 years ago | Reply @Rehmat Ali: Pakistan has never reconciled with the fact that people with different religious beliefs can co-exsist. That's why Pakistan's inception happened. Now the fact that India is doing good and developing at a much higher pace than Pakistan it was unacceptable for Islamic Republic of Pakistan and hence the issue of Kashmir.

Tony Singh | 8 years ago | Reply @Rehmat Ali: Who says Indians have not accepted wholeheartedly Pakistan? We have accepted is as much as Pakistanis have accepted Kashmir as part of India.

Barry | 8 years ago | Reply @Humza: The whole world knows? Would like to point at some respectable newspaper headlines? Or do you think we should trust a Pakistani?

Amit | 8 years ago | Reply @Humza: yes its true, so army and intelligence of pakistan should know that Pakistani people are ready to face hundreds of thousands such attack for Kashmir and sacrifice tens of millions life for Kashmir.

shesh25 | 8 years ago | Reply Its quite amusing to read about the never changing blaming of RAW whenever any outpouring of angst takes place against he Pakistan Authorities... Why cant people grow up ??? Why this obsession with RAW when there is so much defiance by the local people against the Pakistani domination in Baluchistan ??? Give them self determination....Set your house in order before pointing fingers. Charity begins at home...

vaidyanathan | 8 years ago | Reply The position of rulers of pakistan whether army or politicians, precarious. Whatever is happening is not under their control. But they cannot admit their failure and to divert attention they pass the buck on India. Ofcourse most of the pakistanis are not matured or enlightened persons as they are guided by religious fanatics. So they can be befooled easily. Nothing wrong to have self-defence like this.

Pankaj | 8 years ago | Reply @Humza: By "Whole World" you mean Pakistan, China and N Korea, right?

Rehmat Ali | 8 years ago | Reply India has never accepted Pakistan wholeheartedly since its day of inception and used various methods to destabilize Pakistan. Indian PM Modi during his state visit of Bangladesh had admitted their alleged dirty role to break Pakistan, He said we are proud Indian army sacrificed themselves for the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. Now India is running a campaign to convert Muslims back into Hindus named as “Ghar Wapsi Program”. India didn’t recognized Pakistan and still all their policies circulate around to implement their narrow-minded concept of “Akhand Baharat” to destabilize Pakistan.

onlooker | 8 years ago | Reply Unfortunate fact is that condemnation on India's 'atrocities' on 'innocent' kashmiris are coming out solely from Pakistan and not even China/OIC is in a mood to honestly support its stance! It is high time for Pakistan to stop betting too much on jihadis and engage with India for a peaceful settlement. No Government in India could ever accede on swapping territory so getting ruined for an unjust cause is unwise.

numbersnumbers | 8 years ago | Reply Notice that the Good/Bad Taliban types scream themselves hoarse taking credit for these terrorist attacks, BUT government always plays the "foreign hand" card and blames India (without proof the last twenty years!) to deflect responsibility!!!

numbersnumbers | 8 years ago | Reply Foreign Hand?? Without PROOF ( again?) ! Sounds like a broken record playing the last twenty years!

Pankaj | 8 years ago | Reply Stop hinting... provide proofs. You were suppose to submitt a dosier in UN of Indian involvment in terror attacks in Pakistan long ago. What happened to that?

Humza | 8 years ago | Reply The whole world knows that India uses Afghanistan as a base to conduct cross border mischief and trouble in Pakistan. Former US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said as much long before Indian agents were rounded up who spilled the beans on their cowardly work in Karachi and in Baluchistan. Pakistan needs to strengthen border controls and apprehend all Indian and their Afghan puppets who are behind such horrendous acts.

Balachandar | 8 years ago | Reply India will never ever act like this. So don't preach unbelievable facts like this. We never support terrorism in any circumstances.

Ish | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistanis are smart and go-getters.They somehow always find out raw's involvement in everything that happens in Pakistan.

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