India on Sunday rejected Pakistan’s allegations linking New Delhi to the latest wave of violence in Balochistan, calling the claims “baseless” and accusing Islamabad of using “usual tactics to deflect blame” from its own internal problems.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was responding to statements by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who alleged Indian involvement in coordinated militant attacks across the restive Balochistan province. The attacks, carried out on Saturday, left at least 33 people dead, including 18 civilians and 15 security personnel, according to Pakistani authorities.

‘Usual Tactics To Deflect Attention’

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal dismissed the accusations outright, saying they were part of a familiar pattern. “We categorically reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan, which are nothing but its usual tactics to deflect attention from its own internal failings,” Jaiswal said while responding to media queries on February 1.

The Indian government urged Pakistan to look inward and address the long-standing grievances of the Baloch people instead of blaming external actors.

MEA Flags Human Rights Concerns In Balochistan

The MEA statement highlighted what it described as “suppression, brutality and violation of human rights” by Islamabad in Balochistan, a province that has witnessed decades of insurgency and unrest.

“Instead of parroting frivolous claims each time there is a violent incident, it would do better to focus on addressing the long-standing demands of its people in the region,” the statement said. 

The latest violence involved coordinated attacks on civilians, a high-security prison, police stations and paramilitary installations at multiple locations across Balochistan, including areas near the provincial capital Quetta. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assaults.

Pakistan’s military said that security forces launched large-scale counter-terrorism operations in response, killing 92 militants, including three suicide bombers.

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Rising Death Toll And Security Operations

Over the past two days, Pakistani authorities have claimed that at least 133 militants were killed in clearance operations across the province. The army also reported casualties among security personnel during the fighting. 

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has long been plagued by violence involving ethnic Baloch militant groups, who accuse the central government of exploiting the region’s natural resources while marginalising local communities. Islamabad has repeatedly accused foreign actors, including India, of fomenting unrest in the province, charges New Delhi has consistently denied.

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