Defence Minister calls BLA and TTP Indian proxies
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has termed two major terrorist groups operating in Pakistan - proscribed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as "Indian proxies".
Speaking on Geo News programme 'Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath' late on Wednesday, he asserted that Islamabad would present 'complete evidence' of New Delhi's alleged involvement in the Khuzdar blast that killed at least six people — including three children — and injured more than 40, many of them female students.
The suspected bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the school bus as it drove past Zero Point near Rakhshan Hotel, Deputy Commissioner Yasir Iqbal Dashti said, adding that the bus was ferrying students to the Army Public School situated within the Khuzdar cantonment.
The vehicle was rigged with more than 30 kilograms of explosives, according to the Bomb Disposal Squad.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that 'three innocent children and two adults have embraced Shahadat' and multiple children have sustained injuries in the 'cowardly and ghastly attack planned and orchestrated by the terrorist state of India and executed by its proxies in Balochistan.
'The BLA and TTP are being financed and directed by India. They have nothing to do with nationalism or religion,' Asif said. 'We will corroborate everything we have claimed.'
Asif described the attack as an assault on non-combatants and said 'Pakistan will strike with full force' against those responsible. He linked the BLA directly to India, saying its leadership operated from New Delhi.
The minister also criticised India for rejecting Pakistan's call for a joint investigation into last month's Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 dead.
'India, without any proof, blamed us. But we have evidence linking India to the BLA and to violence inside Pakistan,' he said.
Earlier, ISPR had said that India has unleashed its proxies to spread terror and unrest in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa through such heinous and cowardly acts after miserably failing on the battlefield.
"Having failed in the Operation Bunnianum Marsoos and being hunted by military and law enforcement agencies, these Indian terror proxies are being employed as a state tool by India to foment terrorism in Pakistan against soft targets such as innocent children and civilians," added the ISPR.
"Use of terrorism as a state policy by Indian political government is abhorrent and reflective of their low morality and disregard for basic human norms," said the ISPR in a statement.
The military further added that planners, abettors and executors of this cowardly Indian-sponsored attack will be hunted down and brought to justice and the heinous face of India will be exposed in front of the entire world. "Pakistan Armed Forces with support of brave Pakistani nation stand united to uproot Indian-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan in its all manifestations."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
20 minutes ago
- Business Recorder
UK, India likely to unveil trade deal next week, including whisky, EVs, textiles, sources say
NEW DELHI/LONDON: India and Britain are expected to seal a long-awaited free trade deal next week, two Indian government sources said, granting Indian textiles and electric vehicles some duty-free access to the UK market and easing British exports of whisky, cars and food. In May, both countries announced the conclusion of trade negotiations after three years of stop-start negotiations, aiming to increase bilateral trade, remove trade barriers and allow duty-free entry of goods. The countries are now preparing to formally sign the agreement, and the announcement could coincide with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's expected visit to London next week, one of the Indian officials said. The trade pact will take effect in about a year, after it is approved by the British parliament and India's federal cabinet, the official added. Officials spoke on the condition of anonymity as the details are not public. 'The trade agreement offers a win-win for both countries,' the second Indian source said, adding that Indian consumers would gain access to Scotch whisky at lower prices, as import tariffs will drop to 75% from 150% immediately, and further to 40% over the next decade. On cars, India will cut duties to 10% from 100% under a quota system that will be gradually liberalised, the sources said. In return, Indian manufacturers are expected to gain access to the UK market for electric and hybrid vehicles, also under a quota regime, they added. India's top think tank recommends easing investment rules for Chinese firms, sources say India's commerce ministry did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. Britain's trade ministry said that the countries were working to finalise the deal. 'We have been working with India on a landmark trade deal that will deliver for British people and business,' a UK government spokesperson said. India's trade ministry has said 99% of Indian exports to Britain would benefit from zero duty under the deal, including textiles, while Britain will see reductions on 90% of its tariff lines. An Indian trade delegation is separately holding talks in Washington, for a potential trade deal with the U.S. as President Donald Trump ramps up his trade war with the threat of sharply higher tariffs from August 1. By 2030, India's middle class is projected to reach 60 million people and could rise to a quarter of a billion by 2050, according to British government estimates. India's overall import demand is forecast to grow by 144% in real terms to 1.4 trillion pounds ($1.88 trillion) by 2035, compared to 2021.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
FO reaffirms zero-tolerance stance on terrorism
Pakistan has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance against terrorism and emphasised its pivotal role in global counter-terrorism efforts. Pakistan remains steadfast in its commitment to international cooperation and has played a crucial role in the fight against terrorism, as evidenced by the apprehension of Sharifullah, the mastermind behind the Abbey Gate bombing, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement issued on Friday. The statement also addressed the ongoing investigations into the Pahalgam incident, which occurred in the disputed region of Indian-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The FO rejected any claims linking the incident to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a defunct organisation that was banned in Pakistan years ago. The FO stressed that Pakistan has successfully dismantled such outfits, arrested and prosecuted their leadership, and effectively deradicalised their cadres. The statement further highlighted India's tendency to exploit designations of terrorist groups to promote anti-Pakistan narratives. It noted that this tactic often serves to divert international attention from India's ongoing human rights abuses, particularly in IIOJK. "While the issue under consideration pertains to US domestic laws, India has a track record of exploiting such designations to push anti-Pakistan propaganda with a view to divert international attention from its irresponsible and rogue behavior," the statement read. It added that Pakistan remains a counter-terrorism bulwark, having made unparalleled sacrifices in the global fight against extremism. The FO called on the international community to adopt objective, non-discriminatory policies in addressing terrorism, stressing the need for collective global action against all terrorist organizations. In this regard, Pakistan urged the inclusion of the Majeed Brigade as an alias of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in the list of designated terrorist organisations, the statement concluded.
Business Recorder
3 hours ago
- Business Recorder
India's top think tank recommends easing investment rules for Chinese firms, sources say
NEW DELHI: The Indian government's top think tank has proposed easing rules that de facto require extra scrutiny for investments by Chinese companies, arguing that the rules have meant delays for some sizeable deals, three government sources said. Currently, all investment by Chinese entities in Indian companies need to gain a security clearance from both India's home and foreign ministries. The think tank, NITI Aayog, has proposed that Chinese companies can take a stake of up to 24% in an Indian company without any approval being required, said the sources who were not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified. The proposal, reported for the first time by Reuters, is part of a plan to boost foreign direct investment in India and is being studied by the trade ministry's industries department, the finance and foreign ministries, as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office, the sources said. And while not all of NITI Aayog's ideas are necessarily taken up by the government, the proposal comes at a time when India and China are seeking to mend ties that have been particularly strained since border clashes in 2020. Avoiding trade curbs vital for normalisation of ties, India tells China Any decision to ease might be months away and will be taken by political leaders, two of the sources said. They added that the industries department is in favour of easing, but the other government bodies are yet to give their final view. NITI Aayog, the ministries, the industries department and the prime minister's office did not reply to Reuters requests for comment. Deals shelved The rules were put in place in 2020 after border clashes, including hand-to-hand fighting between the two neighbours. They only apply to land bordering nations, which affects Chinese companies the most. By contrast, companies from other countries can freely invest in many sectors such as manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, while some sensitive sectors such as defence, banking and media have restrictions. Deals such as a 2023 plan by China's BYD to invest $1 billion in an electric car joint venture have been shelved due to the rules, sources have said. China, India should work towards 'win-win' cooperation: Chinese FM While foreign investment has slowed globally since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the rules hampering Chinese investment in India have been seen as a significant factor behind a large drop in the South Asian country's FDI. Net foreign direct investment in India tumbled to a record low of just $353 million in the past financial year, a fraction of the $43.9 billion logged in the year ended March 2021. An easing in military tensions since October has led to more efforts by both countries to mend ties, with plans for the resumption of direct flights and India seeking a 'permanent solution' to their decades-old border dispute. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's made his first trip to China in five years this week, telling his counterpart that the two nations must settle tensions along their border and avoid restrictive trade measures such as China's curbs on the supply of rare earth magnets. The think tank has also recommended revamping the board that decides on foreign direct investment proposals, the sources said.
