'India is responsible for Balochistan unrest'

Musharraf says operation against Nawab Akbar Bugti was justified.


Express November 26, 2010

LONDON: Former president Pervez Musharraf said that the Indian government is responsible for creating unrest in Baochistan, while speaking to Munizae Jahangir during an interview on the Express 24/7 programme 'Face Off' in London.

Musharraf reiterated his earlier claims that Indian and Afghan involvement in Balochistan was creating unrest there, adding that the Pakistani government had solid evidence of their involvement and that the evidence had been shared with everyone. “Even (Afghan) President Karzai has been given (the evidence),” he said.

Musharraf said the military operation against Nawab Akbar Bugti was justified as he had been creating trouble in Balochistan. “There is a person who is firing 500 rockets on Sui. There is a person who has occupied the hill features and is firing rockets and weapons… on the Frontier Corps. They are blowing up the gas pipeline, the electric pylon, the railway line”.

He said that Nawab Akbar Bugti’s grandson, Bramdagh Bugti is received by agents from the Indian intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), when he goes to India. “I know that they finance him, they give him weapons to create trouble and stab us in the back in Balochistan.”

While talking about the ongoing probe on the murder of Benazir Bhutto, he said that the three people named by Benazir Bhutto in her letter before she was assassinated were not behind her killing.

“I knew about Pervaiz Elahi and Ejaz Shah, they were very responsible people and I know they wouldn’t be planning to kill her, I mean, it would be utterly stupid of them to do that. Hamid Gul is a man who… always uses his ex-intelligence connections a lot and I know that he hated her. But I don’t know whether he was planning an assassination.”

When asked if there were ex-intelligence people involved in Benazir’s murder, he said that he did not know.

The first part of the interview will air today (Friday) at 8pm in Pakistan.

COMMENTS (71)

mohammad yunus | 13 years ago | Reply Mr. Mush you are now in very critical condition. You deprived the Pakistan in your era. Plz now keep silent and live your life. You dont have any right to blame India.
Jay S | 13 years ago | Reply I am an Indian and I cannot imagine any nation not taking advantage of a situation like Balochistan. When Pakistan with it's 'strategic assets' can strike at the heart of India, I don't see why India should just sit and watch. I think India should raise the ante and allocate billions to take advantage of this situation. This is a heaven-sent opportunity for India and I am sure they're aware of it. India should make it plain - you stop your adventures or else. After Mumbai, the gloves are off - there is no use pretending that things will ever come back on an even keel. One way or another, Mumbai will be the watershed in this dirty business of 'strategic assets'.
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