Indian hand in NWFP violence: governor

By IANS

Peshawar : The governor of Pakistan’s restive North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) says there is evidence of an “Indian hand” in acts of terrorism in the tribal areas and other districts in the province.


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Pressed for evidence of India’s involvement in the attacks, Lt. Gen. (retd) Ali Mohammad Jan Orakzai declined to reveal details.

“But I know there is an Indian hand in all this. The Indian consulates in Afghanistan are involved in fomenting trouble in the NWFP,” The News Sunday quoted him as telling reporters at an iftar dinner he had hosted for them at the Governor’s House.

According to Orakzai, the increase in terrorist activities and the attacks on political and religious figures in the NWFP “was a matter of concern for the government”.

Replying to questions, the governor said talks were in a decisive stage with a tribal jirga in South Waziristan to secure the release of 244 soldiers who had been captured by militants on Aug 30.

“The militants are demanding that (a) peace agreement signed in February 2005 be respected and implemented. Now there was a written agreement, which was made public. The militants are claiming some verbal commitments were also made and we are trying to find out as to what were those points,” the governor maintained.

Asked how such a large number of troops surrendered to the militants without a fight, Orakzai said the soldiers were transporting rations or returning to their place of posting for duty and were, therefore, lightly armed.

At the same time, he agreed there were lapses on the part of the troops leading to their capture.

“We would know the details once the soldiers are released and return to their units,” Orakzai added.

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