Pakistan claims Indian link to deadly Balochistan explosion

ISLAMABAD: Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed on Tuesday when their vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device, the Pakistani military said, blaming arch-rival India for the attack.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since an April 22 attack on Hindu tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. India has accused Pakistan of involvement, saying two of the three suspected attackers were Pakistani nationals.

Islamabad has denied the allegation but says it is fully prepared to defend itself in the event of an attack, prompting world powers to urge them to de-escalate tensions.

Pakistan’s military said members of the Baloch Liberation Army, which it described as an “Indian proxy,” targeted its vehicle with an improvised explosive device

The BLA is the strongest of several insurgent groups operating in the region bordering Afghanistan and Iran, a mineral-rich region that is home to Beijing’s investment in the deepwater port of Gwadar and other projects.

India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the statement.

The rivals have announced a range of measures against each other, from suspending trade and a key water deal to closing their airspace and reducing embassy staff.

On Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the need to avoid a military confrontation that “could easily spiral out of control.

“Now is the time for maximum restraint and a push back from the brink,” he said.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, referring to the council’s meeting in New York on Monday, said that members of the UN Security Council were briefed on the situation in the region and were informed of intelligence information that indicated an “imminent threat” of action by India.

“They called for dialogue and diplomacy to reduce tensions and avoid military confrontation,” the ministry said in a statement.