Balochis lobby with "India Caucus" to stop F-16 sale to Pakistan

New Delhi
17 July 2006

Condemning the Mumbai serial blasts, the Baloch Action Committee
has said that Pakistan may have "instigated, inspired and supported" the terrorists who
planted explosives in the suburban trains and killed 200 persons and injured hundreds
more.

The Baloch Action Committee was also lobbying with the members of the India Caucus in
the United States Congress to seek their support for stopping the sale of F-16s to
Pakistan. It is understood that about 65 members of the India Caucus have been
sounded out in this regard.

In a statement, the Baloch Action Committee has said that the "acts of terrorism are
controlled and monitored by ISI" and it would be "exceedingly difficult for Indian people
and government to carry forward what may be called as normalisation [and] peace
process."

"Balochis strongly condemn killing of innocent people in Mumbai, India in the train blast
by terrorists .... We mourn with the families of the near and dear and pledge to shine the
light of justice on the face of perpetrators. We Balochis regret that our Indian brothers
have fallen in the trap of false assurances delivered by Pakistan," the statement read.

Earlier this month, India said the US decision to sell F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan was
"not conducive" to improving the ties between New Delhi and Islamabad. India also
expressed "disappointment" with the US approach to Pakistan. The spokesman of the
Ministry of External Affairs said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had conveyed as much
to President George W Bush earlier this year.

"This step is not conducive to improving ties between India and Pakistan," the
spokesman told reporters when asked about the Bush administration's approval of sale
of 18 new F-16 fighter jets to Islamabad. The spokesman said this issue had been a
subject of discussions between India and the US and New Delhi was reiterating its
position on the matter.

The Bush administration has notified about the proposed sale to the US Congress which
has 30 days to review the offer. Unless the Congress passes a legislation to block the
deal, it will go ahead. The package sent to the Congress includes the approval of sale
of 18 new fighter jets with an option for Pakistan to buy another 18.

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