ISLAMABAD, 3 January 2006 — Pakistan yesterday warned India that statements about the law and order situation in Balochistan province could spoil the atmosphere of the ongoing peace process the two South Asian rivals began in 2004.

“Statement of these sort do tend to vitiate the atmosphere we worked so hard to build for sustaining the bilateral peace process to find a just solution to the Kashmir issue,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tasnim Aslam told reporters in Islamabad.

India last week made an observation over “violence” in Balochistan as a result of “military action” there that drew a rebuff from Islamabad for interfering in its internal matters.

But it rejected Pakistan’s protest, saying that the statement on the situation in Balochistan was nothing “extraordinary”.

“Anyone who issues a statement that is tantamount to interfering in the internal affairs of other countries betrays a psyche of a bull that sees red rag everywhere,” Tasnim remarked while advising India to “mind its own business”.

The Pakistani Army is currently scouring areas of Kohlu district where it suspects ultra-nationalists are based and carrying out rocket attacks on government installations and officials including the one on Dec. 14 during President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s visit to that area.

Tasnim did not name anyone when asked about India’s involvement in Balochistan but hinted at foreign interference behind the violence.

“There are indications and there is evidence of foreign involvement from a neighboring country,” she added.

Referring to foreign dignitaries’ visits to Pakistan she said the foreign minister of Japan and the crown prince of Thailand would be visiting Islamabad during this week.

To a question she said Pakistan was awaiting the findings of the investigation into the alleged torture and detention of Pakistanis in Greece by the authorities there. However she said Greek authorities had denied the reports of torture and detention.

In response to another question on the opening of Pakistan’s Consulate in Bombay, Tasnim said: “We are looking for a suitable place for the consulate and also for the accommodation of staff members. It’s a matter of few weeks, she said.”

The two nuclear-armed neighbors are preparing to begin a third round of peace talks, also known as the composite dialogue process, to resolve their outstanding disputes.