Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 1: India on Sunday strongly refuted Pakistan’s recent claims linking New Delhi to attacks in Balochistan, calling them “baseless allegations” and part of Islamabad’s “usual tactics” to divert attention from its internal issues.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged Pakistan to stop repeating what it described as “frivolous claims” and instead focus on addressing the longstanding grievances of its own people. In a statement, the MEA said, “We categorically reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan, which are nothing but its usual tactics to deflect attention from its own internal failings. Instead of parroting frivolous claims each time there is a violent incident, it would do better to focus on addressing long-standing demands of its people in the region. Its record of suppression, brutality and violation of human rights is well known.”
The remarks followed Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s assertion on Saturday that India was involved in violent incidents in Balochistan. Pakistan has seen a rise in militant activity in recent years, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, after the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Meanwhile, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated attacks across multiple districts in Balochistan, describing the operation as ‘Operation Herof Phase II’. According to the group, the offensive lasted nearly ten hours and targeted what it called key military, security, and administrative installations in Quetta, Noshki, Mastung, Dalbandin, Kalat, and other towns.
The BLA claimed that at least 84 members of Pakistani security forces were killed, with many others injured, while 18 personnel were reportedly taken captive. The group also stated that over 30 government properties, including offices, banks, and prisons, were seized or destroyed, and more than 20 vehicles set ablaze during the attacks. According to the BLA, its fighters managed to temporarily disrupt security operations and control certain areas for brief periods.
Balochistan has long been a flashpoint of unrest, with human rights groups highlighting enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and illegal detentions of Baloch citizens by Pakistani authorities. India’s response underscores New Delhi’s consistent stance that any allegations of its involvement in the region are unfounded.