India rejects Pakistani allegations of Lahore blasts link

NEW DELHI - Strongly condemning the multiple bombings in Lahore, India Saturday rejected Pakistani allegations of an Indian hand in the attack and stressed that such loose statements were putting a strain on bilateral ties.

Making it clear that India had no interest in destabilising Pakistan, New Delhi reminded Islamabad that it should concentrate “on dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism directed against India and adversely impacting on Pakistan itself”.

“The government of India unequivocally condemns the series of bomb blasts in Lahore which claimed the lives of scores of people, including innocent civilians, and injured many more, among them women and children,” the external affairs ministry said in a statement here.

“Our condolences go out to the families of those killed by these acts of terrorism,” the ministry said.

The twin suicide bombings Friday targeting an army convoy killed at least 57 people in Lahore and came barely four days after a terror attack at an intelligence service facility in the city.

Khusro Pervez, the Lahore city commissioner, told Dawn television that India was behind the bombings, although he did not offer any evidence.

The external affairs ministry also conveyed deep disappointment over statements emanating from Pakistan alleging an Indian hand in Friday’s attacks in Lahore, and other terrorist acts and disturbances elsewhere in Pakistan.

“We categorically reject, once again, the allegations of India’s involvement in such acts or activities,” the ministry said.

“Government has reiterated on several occasions, and at the highest level, that India has no interest in destabilizing Pakistan,” it stressed.

Rubbishing these “unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations”, New Delhi said it was unfortunate that by repeating such statements, officials in responsible positions in the Pakistani government “put a strain on our bilateral relationship”.

Instead, India warned, Islamabad should concentrate on dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism directed against India and adversely impacting on Pakistan itself.