Lahore: Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik has claimed that foreign diplomats were supporting local terrorists who have wreaked havoc in the country in the recent past.
Talking to reporters after meeting people who were injured in Monday’s twin blasts at the Moon market here, Malik said that some of the diplomats were assisting the militants, but they could not be arrested under the Geneva Convention.
He said that no terrorist came to Pakistan from abroad, and that all of them were locals getting assistance from neighbouring countries.
Later, during a press conference, Malik said Islamabad would act accordingly if it discovers India’s hand in recent terror activities in Pakistan.
“The government will effectively respond if it is discovered that India was involved in terrorist attacks in the country,” The Daily Times quoted Malik, as saying.
It should be mentioned here that just a couple of days ago, Malik had claimed that Interior Ministry has substantial evidence to prove India’s involvement in extremists activities inside Pakistan’s border, which had been handed over to the Foreign Ministry for further action.
The Foreign Ministry, however, rejected the evidence, saying more evidence was needed to ‘plausibly argue’ that India is involved in fanning insurgency inside Pakistan.
“The possibility that there are elements who want to destabilise the country cannot be ruled out. But information received by us in this regard, is insufficient. We need more information and material to plausibly argue our case,” Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had said.
ANI
First Published: Friday, December 11, 2009, 14:05