International

Charges baseless, says Pakistan

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD MAY 15. Pakistan today rejected the assertion of the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, that it was involved in the terrorist incident in Jammu in which over 34 persons were killed, as "totally baseless and unfounded".

The Pakistan Information Minister, Nisar A. Memon, told presspersons at a news conference after the Cabinet meeting that Pakistan itself had been a victim of international terrorism and the incident in Karachi last week was a proof if any was needed.

When a correspondent sought his reaction to the reported statements by Indian Ministers warning of "retaliatory action", Mr. Memon expressed the hope that New Delhi would not resort to "adventurism". Asked about the peace mission of the United States Asssitant Secretary of State, Christina Rocca, he said the visit would be helpful in defusing the tension between India and Pakistan. Islamabad had already extended the hand of friendship to New Delhi and it was for the other side to respond. At the same time, Pakistan was prepared to face any eventuality and its troops were ready to defend every inch of its territory. "Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind''.

Earlier, talking to foreign media networks, Mr. Memon said the world was fully aware that Pakistan stood with the international community in the fight against terrorism with full force. Asking India to resolve its own internal problems, the Minister said that "the policy of the Government is that it will not allow anybody to use its soil for acts of terrorism against another country''.

"If India says that people from Pakistan's side of the border are crossing over, then I ask what hundreds of thousands of Indian troops are doing in the India-held Kashmir.''

To a question, he said that when the forces of the two countries are deployed in front of each other, then it would certainly result in tension. He said the U.S. was also watching this tension. It was possible that the U.S. may have got some reports that there was thinking in India to carry out an attack of some kind. And because of this a high-level U.S. official was visiting the region.

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