Exercise restraint in Baluch, India tells Pak

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New Delhi, Dec 27: India on Tuesday noted with “concern” the growing violence in Balochistan and the military action there. It has asked Pakistan to “exercise restraint” and to address the grievances of the people of the region through peaceful discussions.

External affairs spokesman Navtej Sarna said here in response to a question that, “the government of India has been watching with concern the spiralling violence in Baluchistan and the heavy military action, including use of helicopter gunships and jet fighters by the government of Pakistan to quell it.”

“We hope the government of Pakistan will exercise restraint and take recourse to peaceful discussions to address the grievances of the people of Baluchistan,” he said.

It is being reported that the Pakistan Army has launched massive crackdown on tribesmen in Baluchistan killing dozens of people. The army has used helicopter gunships in the operations which began on December 18.

The operations were significantly launched just two days prior to the visit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to the region.

Locals have been up in arms over the use of force by the army, alleging high handedness.

Four-party Baloch alliance has claimed that 50 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the operation.

Baloch nationalist leader and President of Jamhoori Watan party Nawab Akbar Bugti has been quoted as saying that jet fighters and US planes bombarded unarmed people. He said 18,000 personnel of army, armed with sophisticated weapons, had surrounded the entire area.