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Sheltering Brahumdagh will make India 'official sponsor of terrorism': Asif

By Web Desk
September 23, 2016

ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said on Thursday that if India granted asylum to Brahumdagh Bugti, then that would make the country an official sponsor of terrorism. 

In a tweet message, the federal Defence Minister of Pakistan said that if India granted asylum to the wanted Baloch insurgent, then that would amount to harbouring a terrorist by a state. 

An Indian website confirmed that Brahumdagh was making arrangements to apply for asylum in India. 

"We have decided that we will formally file asylum papers to the Indian government. We will start work on it right away. Will go to the Indian embassy and will follow the legal process," the Balochistan Republican Party leader was quoted as saying. 

Brahumdagh Bugti thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Singh Modi last month for raising the issue of Balochistan in his August 15 speech. 

A separatist who claims to represent the people of Balochistan and their rights, Brahumdagh Bugti has been accused of receiving funds from Indian spy agency RAW in exchange for fueling violence in Balochistan.

Tensions have been on the rise between India and Pakistan, as both nuclear-armed nations have accused each other of inciting terrorism and violence. India placed blame on Pakistan for the Uri attack which took place a couple of days ago, which Pakistan vehemently denied. Pakistan, on the other hand, has blamed India for violating human rights in Kashmir and has pushed global leaders at the recent UN General Assembly to demilitarize occupied Kashmir.