India on Monday categorically rejected allegations levelled by Pakistan regarding New Delhi's role in a blast that occurred in Karachi, urging Islamabad to focus on dismantling terror infrastructure on its soil rather than pointing fingers.
India's Response to Allegations
Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have seen Pakistani reports making baseless allegations against India regarding the recent incident in Karachi. We categorically reject those." He added that Pakistan, instead of blaming others, would do better to look inwards, take credible action against the terror infrastructure on its territory, and rid itself of its proclivity to rely on terrorism as an instrument of state policy.
The Karachi Incident
A bomb and gun attack took place at the Sindh Rangers headquarters in Karachi's Gulistan-i-Jauhar neighbourhood. The assault resulted in casualties and significant damage. Pakistani military and government officials laid out two primary allegations regarding who was behind the incident, alleging that the blast was carried out by an "Indian proxy." However, the militant group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, a prominent breakaway faction of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), formally claimed responsibility for the assault.
Conflicting Claims
Despite the claim of responsibility by Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Pakistani authorities alleged that the attack was orchestrated by India. The Pakistani military also claimed that they captured a wounded attacker whom they identified as an Afghan national. India dismissed these allegations as baseless and part of a pattern of Pakistan shifting blame for its internal security challenges.
India's Stance on Cross-Border Terrorism
India has consistently urged Pakistan to take credible action against terrorist groups operating from its territory. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Pakistan must stop using terrorism as an instrument of state policy and focus on addressing its own security issues. The rejection of allegations comes amid heightened tensions between the two neighbours, with India calling for Pakistan to be held accountable for cross-border terrorism.
