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"West being hoodwinked on terrorism"

B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Leader of Opposition Maulana Fazlur Rehman has accused the Government of deceiving the West by helping militants freely enter Afghanistan from Waziristan in the Frontier province.

He told a news conference in Lahore on Sunday that the Government of Pervez Musharraf should give the identity of the infiltrators and its (Government's) motives for helping them enter Afghanistan. "They must also give the nation the identities of the men being moved from Waziristan to militant camps in Mansehra. This is hypocrisy. The rulers are not only trying to deceive the U.S. and the West, but also hoodwinking the entire nation," he said.

Asked about the charge, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Naeem Khan said at the weekly news briefing on Tuesday that Afghan refugees in the tribal belt were being relocated due to the prevailing situation there. He maintained that there was no truth in charges of infiltration from the Pakistani side.

Mr. Khan said Pakistan has done enough to prevent infiltration of militants into its territory as well into Afghanistan. An additional force of 4,000 was being added in the tribal belt to the existing strength of 70,000 to beef up the security arrangements.

In his press conference, Mr. Fazl said that if pressured he would reveal facts (about infiltration) that would open a Pandora's box. "We ask the rulers to reveal the identity of the people being transported to Afghanistan from Waziristan via Kaali Sarak in private vehicles, reveal who is supervising their trouble-free entry into Afghanistan and the reasons for their infiltration," he said.

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