Srinagar
Days after 49 Paramilitary troopers lost their lives in an attack in south Kashmir, the Foreign Office has summoned Indian Acting Deputy High Commissioner Gaurav Ahluwalia to protest his country’s “baseless allegations” against Pakistan in the aftermath of an attack, Pakistan media reported.
Earlier, the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had alleged that there is “incontrovertible evidence” of Pakistan “having a direct hand in this gruesome attack”, Radio Pakistan reported.
Ahluwalia, who was called to the FO by the additional secretary (Asia Pacific) of the foreign ministry, was handed a protest note over the allegations levelled by Indian officials against Pakistan.
“Pakistan rejects Indian government’s allegations of intrusion,” Radio Pakistan quoted FO official as saying, adding that Pakistan condemns attacks in the Jammu and Kashmir.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is currently on a visit to Germany, also asked India to refrain from levelling “unfounded allegations” against Pakistan, Radio Pakistan reported. “Since day one we have been desirous of good relations with all our neighbours, including India,” he was quoted as saying.
Following Thursday’s attack, Islamabad had strongly rejected any insinuation that sought to link the attack to Pakistan without investigations. But India has announced the withdrawal of Most Favoured Nation status for Pakistan and decided to initiate steps to ensure diplomatic isolation of Islamabad.
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to India Sohail Mahmood was summoned by the Indian external affairs ministry and issued a “strong démarche” in connection with the attack. Also on Friday, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria was recalled by New Delhi for consultations in the aftermath of the bombing, reported Radio Pakistan.
