Pak. charge baseless, says India

Taliban militants stand near a burnt vehicle of Afghan security force on main Ghazni- Kandahar highway, near Kabul. India today denied Pakistan’s charge that it was supporting Taliban. File photo: AP

India on Tuesday rubbished as “absurd” and “totally baseless” Pakistan’s allegations that it was supporting and sponsoring Taliban along the border with Afghanistan and said it was the greatest threat to world peace.

“It is absurd and totally baseless. India cannot support Taliban, which is the greatest threat to world peace,” Defence Minister A K Antony told reporters on the sidelines of a defence function here.

He was asked about Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik’s allegation in this regard.

Mr. Malik had on Monday claimed that India was fomenting unrest within Pakistan through steps such as funding Taliban fighters based along the border with Afghanistan.

In an interview to a TV news channel, Mr. Malik said he was “convinced” India is among “certain hostile agencies” that are backing the Taliban to create instability in Pakistan.

In Bangalore, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna had on Monday rejected the charges, saying, “We want Taliban and Talibanism to be totally eliminated”.