It's blame game, says Pak.

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, NOV. 1 Pakistan today described Indian allegations about movement of additional troops by Islamabad as a `belated attempt to put the blame' for raising tension on the Line of Control (LoC).

Answering a question at a press briefing, the Press Secretary to the Pakistan President, Maj. Gen. Rashid Quereshi, said New Delhi's allegation only demonstrated that the Indian intelligence was `very weak'.

Maj. Gen. Quereshi maintained that it was nothing but an attempt to put the blame on Pakistan after India was surprised at the ability of Pakistan to gather intelligence. His reference to the charges made by Pakistan on October 16 about movement of troops along the LoC and International Border (IB).

``I think India was taken aback when we disclosed the movement of its troops along the LoC and IB immediately after the unprovoked firing by its forces on October 15. This is a belated attempt to shift blame on to Pakistan'', he maintained.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdul Sattar, who appeared at the press briefing, said the demonstrations in different parts of Pakistan signifying compassion for innocent victims of stray bombs had been larger because of deep feelings of sympathy with the Afghan people.

``It is illogical to interpret such a natural reaction as danger to the stability of the state or the government'', the Minister said.

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