Gilani says India is interfering in Balochistan

Two days after the controversial Indo-Pak joint statement in Egypt, Pakistan's prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani tonight blamed India for "interference" in Balochistan and "other areas" and said the document reflected Pakistan's concerns on this.

The joint statement signed by Gilani and prime minister Manmohan Singh "underlines our concerns over India's interference in Balochistan and other areas of Pakistan", the prime minister told his first press conference in Islamabad after his return from Sharm el-Sheikh in the Sinai peninsula.

At the outset, he showered praise on Manmohan Singh for agreeing to resume the dialogue, saying India's leader had shown "political sagacity" and "statesmanship" in realising that talks were the only way forward.

The statement, which has been attacked by opposition parties and commentators in India, in a brief reference to Balochistan said Gilani had "mentioned that Pakistan has some information on threats in Balochistan and other areas".

Referring to the document, Gilani said it provides for discussion on all outstanding issues with India. Asked when Pakistan will give proof to India about its "interference" in Balochistan, he said, "As and when talks take place, it will be handed over. Right now we are talking about talks."

During his long interaction with journalists, Gilani was congratulated by them for "showing courage" at the talks with Singh and getting Balochistan on to the table.

Asked about Singh's response when he raised the issue of Balochistan, Gilani evaded a direct reply, saying both India and Pakistan are "victims of terrorism" and a "joint effort" is required to fight it.

To a question, Gilani said Singh was "very clear" that he was ready to discuss all issues. "Just put the cards on the table, I am not scared," he quoted Singh as saying during their three-hour-long discussion.

He said there was a "trust deficit" in relations between India and Pakistan and "with more interactions, that will be taken care of".

When a journalist pointed out that a leader of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) had criticised the omission of the Kashmir issue in the joint statement, Gilani said the reference to "all outstanding issues" includes Kashmir, which, he noted, is the "cornerstone" of the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party's policies.

He said the 'prime minister' of PoK had called him to congratulate him for what he had done on Jammu and Kashmir.

"We discussed in detailed the composite dialogue," Gilani said about his talks with Singh. "In prinicple, we both agreed that dialogue is the only way forward. The population of both the countries is 1.5 billion people and we can't make them suffer and hold them hostage to one issue."

Asked whether the US had helped in making India agree to resume the dialogue, Gilani said, "I have never requested America. It is our own effort, Pakistan's own efforts. Both leaders [Singh and Gilani] were convinced with the stand we took that will help both the countries to move forward."

Gilani was asked whether the filing of a charge sheet today against five suspects in the Mumbai attacks was a coincidence or a gesture to India. "We were already probing. A lot of evidence is being probed. It is just coincidence," he replied.

He said Pakistan has sought more information on the Mumbai attacks and Singh has agreed to send it. "When we get further information, certainly we will bring to justice [the perpetrators]," he said.

Gilani said Singh had expressed fear of another Mumbai-type attack and said if there was "credible and actionable information, it should be shared with our agencies and Pakistan will help."

The prime minister also contradicted president Asif Ali Zardari on his comment that Pakistan does not feel threatened by India. "Ask them who holds such a view," he said when asked if he shared Zardari's views. "We have not had very good relations with India. So we have to be little careful. There is lack of trust. When this ends, then we can say we are not threatened. It is too early to say that now."