India rubbishes Pak allegation about support to Balochs

India rubbished Pakistan's allegations that it was backing the separatist outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) for fuelling unrest in Balochistan.

India on Thursday rubbished Pakistan's allegations that it was backing the separatist outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) for fuelling unrest in Balochistan.

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"These are entirely baseless allegations and we see no reason to dignify them with a response," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said while commenting on allegations by Pakistan Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik that India is supporting BLA.

Malik claimed in the Senate on Wednesday that "The BLA was raised with funding from the Soviet Union (during the Soviet-Afghan war) and it is now backed by India."

BLA, a nationalist outfit, is engaged in a movement for separation from Pakistan. It accuses Pakistan of depriving the locals of the energy-rich region of the benefits of resources.

The BLA remained dormant after the Soviet-Afghan war but was reactivated after the killing of Baloch national leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, Malik said.

Nawab Bugti, an old man, was killed in a bombing attack by Pakistan army about two years back.

Malik claimed that Bugti's grandson Brahamdagh Bugti has sought Indian and US support for independence of Balochistan.