Pakistan alleged on Wednesday that India was backing the banned militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
Pakistan alleged on Wednesday that India was backing the banned militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) for fuelling unrest in its southwestern Balochistan province.
"The BLA was raised with funding from the Soviet Union (during the Soviet-Afghan war) and it is now backed by India," Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said during a debate in the Senate on the situation in Balochistan.
The BLA remained dormant after the Soviet-Afghan war but was reactivated after the killing of Baloch national leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, he said.
Malik claimed that Bugti's grandson Brahamdagh Bugti has sought Indian and US support for independence of Balochistan.
Several nationalist groups demanding a greater say in decision-making and exploitation of natural resources are active in Balochistan. The under-developed province recently witnessed widespread violence after three nationalist leaders were kidnapped and murdered by unidentified persons.
Referring to Brahamdagh Bugti's recent interview to a Pakistani TV channel, Malik said the Baloch nationalist leader was asked if India was "involved in secret operations in Balochistan" and whether it was sending funds to the province.
Malik quoted Bugti as replying: "We are not denying it. We want somebody should support us. I am appealing through your channel to the Indians, Americans and UN to support us. We will welcome any support."
Malik also alleged that an Indian consulate in an Iranian city bordering Balochistan was involved in subversive activities.
At the same time, he hinted that Afghan authorities were taking no action against Baloch nationalists living in that country, including Brahamdagh Bugti.
"Brahamdag Bugti is living in Kabul only five houses away from the palace of (Afghan president Hamid) Karzai," he claimed.
The Afghan government has denied Bugti's presence in the country though Islamabad has repeatedly raised the issue with Kabul, he added.
Malik also claimed that the handlers of the persons who recently kidnapped UNHCR official John Solecki from Balochistan's capital Quetta were based in Kabul. This had come to light through intercepts of phone conversations between the kidnappers and their handlers.
Seven phone numbers traced by Pakistani authorities "led to Brahamdag Bugti," he alleged.
Though the matter was taken up with the Afghan government by Pakistan's Foreign Office, the US administration and the UN Secretary General, Karzai had done little to help, he claimed.
Solecki was freed earlier this month after almost two months in captivity. The little-known Balochistan Liberation United Front had claimed responsibility for his abduction.
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