The Pakistan government should confront India with whatever evidence it has of New Delhi’s alleged involvement in fomenting unrest in Balochistan, former Premier and PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif said on Thursday.

“We were told it is confirmed that India is involved in the unrest in Balochistan,” Sharif told a news conference after a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to discuss the situation in Balochistan. Sharif said he had suggested to Gilani that the government should confront India with the evidence it has and share this material with the West and the United Nations. “Tell the world that this is the solid evidence we have. On one hand, you (the world community) are saying we should end the terrorism in Pakistan and on the other, a neighbouring country is playing a role in creating problems,” Sharif said.

However, Sharif did not make any comments linking India to the unrest in Balochistan, which has been hit by violence and killings blamed on nationalist groups seeking autonomy for the province.

The Pakistan People’s Party-led government has accused India of fomenting unrest in the region. New Delhi has strongly denied the charge.

Sharif said he had held wide-ranging discussions with Gilani on various issues, including a development package being prepared for Balochistan by the government, scrapping the President’s sweeping powers and implementing the Charter of Democracy signed by the PPP and PML-N in 2006. Leaders of all political parties, including Baloch nationalist leaders within and outside Pakistan, should be taken into confidence by the government on its proposed development package for the province, Sharif said.

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