Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday claimed its
security forces had seized Indian-made arms and equipment from
the Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan, where the Army has
launched a major operation to flush out the militants.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and chief
military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas alleged during a news
briefing that Pakistani troops had recovered "Indian arms,
ammunition, literature and medical equipment" from Sherwangi,
a key militant base that was captured a few days ago.
"We have informed the Foreign Office about this
evidence. It is up to them to take up the matter with (the
Indian government)," Abbas said in response to a question on
India's alleged role in backing militants in South Waziristan.
Responding to another query on whether Pakistan will
continue making overtures for peace talks with India despite
the alleged recovery of Indian-made weapons and supplies,
Kaira said: "As far as these weapons and evidence are
concerned, definitely relevant quarters will take up this
matter with (India).
"As far as peaceful negotiations and settlement of
outstanding issues is concerned, we will not deviate from
them. Because when you are at war with nations, you have a
dialogue with nations as well," he said.
"But we will take up this matter very strongly at the
appropriate level."
Interior Minister Rehman Malik had recently alleged
that India was supplying arms to Taliban militants.
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 02, 2009, 20:37