Islamabad, Sept 22: Categorically denying a report in the New York Times charging Pakistan of resuming infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir from July, Islamabad has said the story "aimed to justify" the deployment of Indian troops along the border and "escalate tensions" in the region. Pakistan's foreign office spokesman, in a late night statement released here, described the report as "baseless mischievous and tendentious."
The statement said the story appeared to have been "inspired" to question the credibility of Pakistan government and to provide justification for the Indian government to keep its forces deployed against Pakistan.
"Those behind this story are obviously opposed to reduction of tension between Pakistan and India", it said.
Regretting that a paper as prestigious as NYT has fallen for "motivated" stories to "vilify" Pakistan and to "escalate" tension in the region, it said "as stated by President Pervez Musharraf, the government of Pakistan was neither allowing nor sponsoring nor encouraging any infiltration" into Kashmir and that any claims to the contrary were "concocted and false".
It said the 1000 kilometre-long Line of Control and working boundary could not be completely sealed. "India's own experience establishes this", the statement said adding that measures have been taken by Pakistan to prevent movement across the LOC and the working boundary.
Bureau Report