State-sponsored militancy: India fomenting terror in Pakistan, says FO

Says Indian minister’s recent remarks confirm this apprehension.

ISLAMABAD:

The Foreign Office on Thursday strongly denounced the recent statement of India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, saying it is not only a matter of concern for Pakistan but also for the rest of the world.

According to the Indian media, Parrikar said last week that New Delhi has to “neutralise terrorists through terrorists”.

“The statement of the Indian defence minister should be a matter of concern not to just Pakistan but also others in the region and beyond,” said FO spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah at his weekly briefing.



He said Parrikar’s statement should be taken in the backdrop of an earlier statement by Ajit Doval last year days before he was appointed National Security Adviser. Doval advocated a policy of ‘offensive defensive’ meaning that India must use militant groups in Pakistan to counter the threat of cross border terrorism.

“Their statements confirm Pakistan’s apprehensions about India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan,” the FO spokesperson maintained.

All appropriate measures, he said, were being taken to protect “our national interest” in the wake of recent threats emanating from the country.

Khalilluah said Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz already condemned the Indian minister’s statement. “There were various options available to the Foreign Office, but this was the one we chose to exercise,” he added.



When asked about reports that New Delhi was making attempts to sabotage the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, the spokesperson said Islamabad noted the propaganda against the project in Indian media.

“However, I wish to reiterate our commitment to the realisation of the economic corridor programme which will benefit the entire region,” he added.

No IS footprint in Pakistan

The FO spokesperson strongly denied reports about the presence of Islamic State militant group in the country.

“There is no footprint of ISIL in Pakistan. The people of Pakistan have no ideological, ethnic or linguistic affinities with the organisation and its members,” he emphasised.

“However, we have seen some pamphlets and wall-chalking. That is no proof of presence of ISIL in Pakistan. Nevertheless, we are cognisant of the threat ISIL poses,” he said, adding, “Our security agencies are aware of this threat and will take appropriate measures, if needed.”

Axact scandal

Replying to a question, Qazi Khalilluah said the Foreign Office had contacted the United States for assistance in the ongoing investigation against Axact’s fake degree scam in Pakistan.

“The investigation of the Axact related issues is still going on. As you are aware, a number of US entities and educational institutions have allegedly been named in the Axact scandal,” he told reporters.

Therefore, on the request of the concerned investigating authorities, we have approached the US side for assistance in the ongoing investigation against Axact in the country, he added.


Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2015.