New Delhi – India has categorically rejected allegations from Pakistan’s civilian and military authorities attempting to link New Delhi to recent attacks in Balochistan, describing the accusations as typical deflection tactics to obscure Islamabad’s own internal failures. The strong rebuttal came after Pakistan blamed India for coordinated assaults across the southwestern province that resulted in significant casualties and heightened regional tensions.
Pakistan’s Allegations Following Coordinated Attacks
The Balochistan violence erupted when attacks occurred at almost a dozen locations across the province, with the Baloch Liberation Army claiming responsibility for the coordinated operations. Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi alleged that India orchestrated these assaults in the southwestern province, while the Pakistani military’s media wing claimed the attacks were launched by “Indian sponsored Fitna al Hindustan,” a term the army specifically uses to describe the BLA.
Pakistani authorities reported that the Balochistan violence targeting cities including the provincial capital Quetta and the strategically important port city of Gwadar resulted in 18 civilian deaths and 15 military casualties. The attacks involved suicide bombers and BLA women fighters, demonstrating the coordinated nature of the operations across multiple locations.
India’s Categorical Rejection of Baseless Claims
External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal issued a firm response to Pakistan’s accusations regarding the Balochistan violence. “We categorically reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan, which are nothing but its usual tactics to deflect attention from its own internal failings,” Jaiswal stated emphatically, dismissing the claims as lacking any credible foundation.
The spokesperson emphasized that Pakistan’s pattern of making frivolous allegations following violent incidents has become predictable and counterproductive. “Instead of parroting frivolous claims each time there is a violent incident, it would do better to focus on addressing long-standing demands of its people in the region,” Jaiswal said, highlighting the core issues underlying the Balochistan violence.
Root Causes of Balochistan Unrest
The Balochistan violence stems from deeper grievances that Pakistan has failed to address adequately. The people of Balochistan have long demanded greater autonomy and meaningful control over the exploitation of their province’s substantial natural resources, including gas reserves and mineral wealth. These demands have been consistently ignored or suppressed by Pakistani authorities, fueling discontent and militancy in the region.
Jaiswal’s statement specifically referenced these long-standing demands, suggesting that the Balochistan violence reflects internal political and economic grievances rather than external interference. The spokesperson’s comments indicate that addressing these legitimate concerns would prove more effective than making unsubstantiated allegations against neighboring countries.
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Pakistan’s Human Rights Record Questioned
Addressing the broader context of the Balochistan violence, Jaiswal highlighted Pakistan’s troubling track record in the region. “Pakistan’s record of suppression, brutality and violation of human rights is well known,” the spokesperson declared, pointing to documented patterns of state violence and oppression against the Baloch population.
This statement underscores international concerns about Pakistan’s handling of dissent in Balochistan, where accusations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and systematic human rights violations have persisted for decades. The Balochistan violence, from India’s perspective, represents consequences of these oppressive policies rather than external manipulation.
Details of the Coordinated Attacks
The BLA issued a formal statement claiming responsibility for the Balochistan violence, identifying the operations as “Operation Herof 2.0.” The coordinated attacks targeted multiple locations simultaneously across Balochistan, demonstrating sophisticated planning and execution capabilities. The involvement of both suicide bombers and women fighters indicated the diverse tactical approaches employed during the Balochistan violence.
Pakistan’s military claimed it killed 133 militants in separate retaliatory operations throughout Balochistan following the attacks. However, these claims could not be independently verified, and questions remain about the actual number of casualties and whether all those killed were indeed militants.
Pakistani Leadership’s Response
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held a news conference in Quetta late Saturday night, where he made definitive accusations regarding the Balochistan violence. “India is behind these attacks,” Naqvi declared. “I can tell you for sure that India planned these attacks along with these terrorists,” he added, providing no evidence to substantiate these serious allegations.
The Pakistani military’s characterization of the BLA as “Indian sponsored Fitna al Hindustan” represents Islamabad’s consistent narrative framework for explaining the Balochistan violence. This terminology reflects Pakistan’s strategy of attributing internal insurgencies to external actors rather than acknowledging domestic political failures.
Implications for Regional Stability
The exchange of accusations following the Balochistan violence highlights continuing tensions between India and Pakistan. India’s firm rejection of Pakistan’s claims emphasizes New Delhi’s position that Islamabad must address its internal governance failures rather than scapegoating neighbors for domestic crises.
The Balochistan violence underscores the complex security challenges facing Pakistan’s southwestern province, where separatist movements have operated for decades, driven by perceived political marginalization and economic exploitation. Until Pakistan meaningfully addresses these fundamental grievances, the cycle of Balochistan violence will likely continue regardless of external factors.
