Interior Minister blasts India for baseless allegations of infiltration

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Strongly condemning the allegation levelled by the Indian home minister that Pakistan is sending infiltrators into the occupied Kashmir, Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed on Tuesday asked his Indian counterpart to give proof to substantiate his claim if any.

Addressing a press conference at NADRA’s headquarters in Islamabad, he said foreign agencies wanted to weaken the country from within. “Foreign media is shifting the onus of the mess Afghanistan is in right now on Pakistan’s shoulders,” he said, and added, “At the end of the day, they all would taste defeat.”

The minister further said that Pakistan’s all border crossings into Afghanistan were closed. “It is now up to the Afghans to decide their future. We have nothing to do with that. We are only the facilitators of ‘peace’ in our neighbouring country,” he said emphatically.

He disclosed that investigations into Dasu bus bomb blast incident had been completed.

He informed that 3G and 4G services would remain suspended in the country’s tribal areas from today (Tuesday, 1st of Muharram).

The interior minister said the names of those found involved in the gruesome murder of Noor Muqaddam, ex-Pakistan’s envoy’s daughter, would be put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Assuring that the government would provide foolproof security during the holy month of Muharram, Rasheed appealed to the Shiite mourners to comply with the coronavirus-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) during majalis and processions.