UN cool to Pak’s campaign against India

The letter, delivered by Pakistan’s acting permanent representative to the UN, did not seek any action but merely asked Secretary General Kofi Annan to inform the Security Council and the General Assembly of its contents.

Accusing an Indian intelligence agency of attempting to disrupt communication network and normal life in various parts of the country, the missive said it was a blatant violation of the principles of the UN charter.

Diplomats suggestedone of the reasons could be the government’s bid to defelct the growing world opinion against Pakistan-sponsored terrorist acts in Kashmir and the recent incidents of violence especially in Karachi have come handy. Unable to control violence, Pakistan wants to lay blame on India, a senior diplomat said, adding it could be seen in the context of opposition parties in Pakistan seeking exit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Meanwhile in Islamabad, keeping up the pressure on the issue, Pakistan sought today help from the five Security Council Permanent Member states for stopping the alleged India-sponsored terrorism in that country.

Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed briefed the envoys of the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain and France yesterday about the recent happenings in Pakistan after the diplomats were summoned to the foreign office.

“It is the responsibility of the international community, specially the permanent members of the security council, to take cognizance of the violation of theprinciples of UN charter and international conventions on terrorism by India,” Ahmed told the envoys of the big five.

“The acts of Indian terrorism also constituted a grace threat to regional peace and security which could derail the process of dialogue initiated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif,” Ahmed told them.

Pakistan, which had earlier lodged a protest with India accusing an Indian intelligence agency of its involvement in the bomb blasts, has threatened that these alleged acts might have negative impact on the process of normalisation of Indo-Pak relations.

According to official sources in Islamabad, Pakistan will also raise the issue at the foreign minister’s meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to be held in Qatar next week.

Foreign Minister Gohar Ayub Khan will represent Pakistan at the meeting and will brief about the “high handedness of the Indian intelligence agencies,” sources said, adding Islamabad would seek support of Islamic countries to put pressure on NewDelhi to stop its alleged role in abetting violence.