ISLAMABAD, 11 AUG (DNA) – The spokesperson of the Foreign Office Nafees Zakaria on Thursday said the involvement of foreign element could not be ruled out in the Quetta terrorist attack.

“India has been involved in subversive activities in Pakistan,” he said in response to a question on India’s spy agency RAW’s hand behind the terrorist attack on a Quetta hospital that claimed 70 lives.

The Spokesman said investigations by intelligence agencies were underway, adding that the confessional statement of Indian serving naval officer Kalbhushan Yadav had vindicated Pakistan’s stance on Indian involvement.

At his weekly news briefing he said the Pakistan government not only at present, but several foreign secretaries in the past had also pointed that “our neighbour” was financing terrorist activities.

When asked on India’s statement of arresting a Pakistani Bahadur Ali for intruding into Kashmir, the Spokesman rejected the claim, saying Pakistan would not allow anyone use its soil against any other country.

To a question, Nafees Zakaria categorically rejected Indian allegations of infiltration across the LoC. He said we have a firm position on it and we will not allow our land to be used against any other country. He said Pakistan itself is the victim of terrorism and it is committed to eradicating the menace. We do not draw any discrimination in the terrorist groups.

Expressing concerns over continuous human rights violations in Indian held Kashmir he said supporting Pakistan’s stance, the brutal killings of Kashmiris was duly condemned by international community including OIC Secretary General, the United Nations, China, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

Zakaria said Pakistan remained concerned about the constant human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir and would continue to raise question on the presence of 700,000 Indian security personnel in the valley.

When asked about the hostile statements being made by the Afghan president against Pakistan, Nafees Zakaria termed it as unfortunate saying these are not helpful. He pointed out that Pakistan has the largest border with Afghanistan and it has hosted the Afghan refugees for about thirty-five years.

He said we have tried and will continue to have the best of relations with the neighbouring countries especially Afghanistan. He said Pakistan supports intra-afghan peace and reconciliation process as peace in Afghanistan in fact is in the interest of Pakistan.

To another query about the Pakistani helicopter, which crashed in Afghanistan, the spokesperson said the Afghan authorities have assured us that it will take all necessary steps to ensure safe recovery of the crew members. DNA