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Attack could have been stage-managed: Pak.
By B. Muralidhar Reddy
ISLAMABAD, DEC. 14. Pakistan tonight virtually endorsed the contention of the militant outfits that the attack on the Indian Parliament on Thursday could have been ``stage-managed'' by the Government to divert attention from ``internal problems'' and to defame the ``freedom struggle'' in Kashmir.
The Press Secretary to the Pakistan President, Maj. Gen. Rashid Quereshi, told the `News Night' programme on the State-run Pakistan Television that Islamabad was expecting some ``such drama by the Indian Government after its total isolation from the international community'' in the wake of the September 11 attacks in America.
The observations came hours after the Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Aziz Ahmed Khan, said Pakistan was ready to examine any evidence provided by India on the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba in the attack.
The argument of Maj. Gen. Quereshi was that since September 11, the Indian Government and media wanted to somehow implicate Pakistan as a terrorist State. He cited the ``hijack'' of the Indian Airlines flight in September and the attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly in support of his contention.
It was counter-productive for Pakistan and the militant outfits operating in Kashmir to indulge in such an operation. ``Such an incident is against our interest whereas it serves a number of purposes of the Indian Government,'' he said to a question.
New Delhi wanted to equate the ``freedom struggle'' in Kashmir with terrorism and continue with its policy of ``oppression and repression'' without attracting international attention. ``Several organisations in India are unhappy with New Delhi. It could even be POTO or the coffin scandal.''
He wanted to know as to why India had not shown the faces of the attackers. ``They have not given us any proof. They don't seem have any proof and yet fingers are being pointed towards Pakistan.''
To a question whether the attackers could have been Pakistani prisoners of war (PoWs) in Afghanistan, who were reportedly handed over by the Northern Alliance to New Delhi recently, he said he had only read reports about it.
``It is the most ill-planned operation. I do not see any objective or motive behind the operation. It is possible that the RAW and other Indian intelligence agencies could have betrayed the attackers after promising them a safe exit.''
Maj. Gen. Quereshi wanted to know as to how the attackers managed to get the uniforms of the security forces and how they managed to get inside the Parliament complex despite the Indian Government having prior information about the possibility of such an attack. ``All I say is that nothing is beyond the Indian agencies. Look at Chattisinghpura.''
On how the incident could impact the relations between India and Pakistan, he said that since the Agra summit, New Delhi had been looking for excuses not to talk to Pakistan. ``We are prepared for a dialogue at any level, any time and anywhere.''
He claimed India had moved three Army divisions to Kashmir in recent days and said that if New Delhi were to attempt any ``misadventure'', Pakistan would give a befitting reply.
A conspiracy: Lashkar
In a statement, Lashkar alleged that the attack was ``a conspiracy to label'' Pakistan and `jehadi' organisations as terrorists. Its spokesman, Yahya Mujahid, said that `mujahideen' (holy warriors) never targeted civilians. ``India wants to take advantage of the current situation and malign the fight for freedom in occupied Kashmir. Lashkar and other organisations are not involved in these incidents. India itself is aiding and committing state terrorism in Kashmir.''
He alleged that India was killing thousands of innocent civilians in Kashmir and was capable of ``stage-managing any drama''.
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