India backing Balochistan Liberation Army
 

[SIZE="4"][U]India backing Balochistan Liberation Army: Rehman Malik[/U][/SIZE]
[B]Thu, 2009-04-23 04: 05[/B]

[B][U]By Farzana Shah-Asian Tribune Correspondent in Pakistan
[/U][/B]

Islamabad, 23 April, Advisor to Pakistani prime minister on Interior, Rehman A. Malik on Wednesday informed the Upper House of the Parliament that India is backing the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) for fuelling insurgency in the province and creating unrest.

Winding up debate on an adjournment motion, to discuss the Balochistan situation in the wake of a recent killing of three Baloch leaders in Turbat, Rehman Malik said "BLA was raised and funded by Russia during Soviet-Afghan war when Pakistan was supporting Afghans and now India is backing its activities."

"BLA remained dormant since the Afghan war ended, but it was reactivated after killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, whose grandson Barhamdagh Bugti has openly sought Indian and American support for independence of Balochistan in a recent interview," he added.

He said that Indian consulate in Iranian city, bordering Balochistan, was also involved in activities other than granting visa to people.

The BLA Chief Barhamdagh Bugti, in his recent interview to a Pakistani channel has openly sought Indian support for independence of Balochistan, he added.

"Barhamdagh Bugti is residing in Kabul just five kilometer away from President Karzai's palace and Pakistan has continuously been asking the Afghan government for access to Barhamdagh," he said.

However, he said, the Afghan Government has been denying Bugti's presence in Afghanistan, though Pakistan repeatedly raised it with Afghanistan that their soil was being used against Pakistan.

It is to be mentioned here that Pakistan blames Balochistan Liberation Army—a terrorist organisation being funded by India, for terrorist activities in Balochistan province.

Meanwhile the Upper House of Pakistani Parliament decided to hold an in-camera session to discuss Balochistan situation on Thursday (today).

The decision was made during the winding up speech of Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik when he was reading out some secret documents before the House.

Couple of members described it not in favor of the country and its relations with the neighbors. Malik proposed an in-camera session to inform the members on role of the neighboring countries in fueling insurgency in the province.

The House then decided with a consensus to meet in-camera Thursday at 1230 hours.

During his speech Malik had mentioned some of the developments regarding Brahamdagh Bugti, kidnapping of John Solecki and killing of three Baloch leaders in Turbat.

PML-N Chairman Senator Raja Zafarul Haq objected on grounds that the Advisor must care for limitations and the country's relation with its neighbors.

"Every government has a right to defend itself but it is not necessary that all information it has, is always correct. When a minister issues a statement he should be cognisant of his limitation in broader regional perspective and its relations with neighbors," he said.

He said the minister was discussing all the neighbors and was even reading out the secret letters. "Let his statement not create problems for the country. We need to keep our national interest supreme," he said.

Senator Prof Sajid Mir also demanded to disclose the activities of all the countries involved in destabilizing Pakistan. "Let we also not give a clean chit to America, and if they are also involved, we need to name them."

Senator Haroon Akhter also supported Prof Sajid Mir's stance and said, "If any country is involved in destabilizing Pakistan, we should not be shy to name it."

After the debate the matter was put before the House that unanimously agreed to hold an in-camera session on the Balochistan situation today.