New Delhi ,March 13: India said on Saturday that while it had made repeated efforts to have peace with Pakistan, certain “dark forces” operating in that country which encouraged terrorism were consistently undermining these attempts. Minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor, in a statement at a function here, also justified the recent foreign secretary-level talks, saying that the dialogue with Pakistan will have to be kept going to ensure that peace and stability were maintained.

The Indian government on Saturday also categorically rejected allegations made in Pakistan about its involvement in Friday’s spate of blasts in Lahore (in which the toll went up to 59 on Saturday), telling Islamabad that it should focus on dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism directed against India instead of repeating “unfounded and unsubstantiated” which were only “putting a strain” on the bilateral relations.
The external affairs ministry, in a statement here, said New Delhi was “deeply disappointed” by statements from Pakistan alleging an Indian hand in the Lahore attacks and terrorist acts and disturbances elsewhere in Pakistan. “We categorically reject, once again, the allegations of India’s involvement in such acts or activities. The government has reiterated on several occasions, and at the highest level, that India has no interest in destabilising  Pakistan,” the statement noted.
It added: “It is unfortunate that by repeating such unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations, officials in responsible positions in the Government of Pakistan put a strain on our bilateral relationship, instead of concentrating on dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism directed against India and adversely impacting on Pakistan itself.”
Mr Tharoor, meanwhile, in his remarks, noted that terrorists were still finding “shelters” in Pakistan. “Terror activities and call for jihads have continued to emanate openly from Pakistan,” he said, pointing out that these
very forces could adversely impact Pakistan’s own safety and security.
In Chandigarh, the other minister of state in the foreign office, Ms Preneet Kaur, noted that continuation of talks with Pakistan was necessary to convey India’s concerns on terrorism emanating there. “We have to keep our talks (with Pakistan) going on as only then concerns related to terrorism and steps required for maintaining peace and stability can be take,” she said at a press conference.

 

Age Correspondent
With Agency Inputs