Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik on Thursday tabled in the Senate 'documentary proof' of India and Afghanistan's involvement in the unrest in Balochistan and the Tribal Areas, sources told Daily Times. Addressing an in-camera session of the House, Rehman alleged that India was using Afghanistan as a base to destabilise Pakistan by fanning an insurgency. The sources said the 'documentary proof' showed that India was funding and training Pakistani terror groups. However, the 'proof' was nothing new for several of the senators, the added.
A senator said he was already aware of all anti-Pakistan conspiracies hatched by India and some other neighbouring countries. He said a neighbouring state was opposed to Pakistan's progress and stability, but did not name the country.
The sources said Rehman used a multimedia system to show the senators images of terrorists arrested from Balochistan and other troubled areas. They said the arrested terrorists had admitted on camera to being trained in Afghanistan on India's behalf.
According to the sources, Rehman also claimed that the majority of terrorists, equipped with latest weapons, arrested in Balochistan and the Tribal Areas had crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan. He said FATA was suffering from the spill over effect of the insurgency in Balochistan.
The sources said Rehman also showed the senators 'documentary proof' of the nationality of three Baloch leaders who were recently killed.
As stated by the prime minister's interior adviser -- one of the three leaders, Ghulam Muhammad, was wanted by Tehran, while another, Sher Baloch, was an Iranian national.
He showed the House images of Taliban slaughtering anti-Taliban and pro-government people in FATA.
Afghan govt: Rehman said President Asif Ali Zardari had complained to his Afghan counterpart, Hamid Karzai, of the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan, but the response had not been positive.
He said that Balochistan Liberation Army chief Brahamdagh Bugti was hiding in Afghanistan, and Kabul was not facilitating Islamabad over his arrest despite repeated requests.
The sources said Balochistan senators, including Abdul Malik and Shahid Bugti, opposed Rehman's assertions. They said the senators rejected the interior adviser's proposal for the formation of a House committee to oversee the investigation into the killing of the three Baloch leaders.
According to the sources, Rehman Malik spoke for seven-and-a-half hours on the situation in Balochistan, the Tribal Areas and NWFP. He also responded to the senators' questions.
The interior adviser later told reporters that the briefing was based on 'true facts' and was given keeping in mind national interest. He said the government would defend the country at every cost.
Thursday's briefing was the first-ever of its nature, and -- according to the Online news agency -- political parties are satisfied with it. The agency said that politicians were now hoping that the briefing would facilitate the formation of an effective policy for Balochistan.