The allegations came from Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours soared over a tit-for-tat spy dispute. Mr Qureshi said: “The move of the Indian government is a clear attempt to move attention away from the disputed border between India and China and to move it towards Pakistan.”
He claimed India, “after being beaten and embarrassed” by China in brutal Himlayan border clashes which left 20 Indian soldiers dead, was looking for excuses to launch a military operation against Pakistan.
The foreign minister offered no evidence to back up his allegations and there was no immediate comment from officials in India or China.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars over the disputed Kashmir region, which is claimed in its entirety by both the nations.
India expelled half the staff in Pakistan’s embassy in New Delhi yesterday over allegations Pakistani diplomats were “engaged in acts of espionage and maintained dealings with terrorist organisations”.