Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday accused India of being involved in acts of sabotage in Balochistan, saying there is clear evidence of Indian interference in the province.

Speaking to the media in the federal capital, Asif said India’s involvement in Balochistan is evident through the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who is currently in Pakistan’s custody. He claimed that a small group of people is attempting to destabilise the Baloch population and stressed that action must be taken against those trying to create unrest.

The defence minister said that terrorists operating in Balochistan are agents of Afghanistan and hostile forces, adding that they would be defeated with the support of the Baloch people. He accused these elements of trying to blackmail the state and said they were acting on the instructions of Pakistan’s enemies.

Asif said attacks on Pakistan are being carried out with the backing of hostile countries and their proxies. He added that Balochistan has seen significant development over the past decades, including the construction of roads and educational institutions, and said promoting democratic culture is the right of the Baloch nation.

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He emphasised that the people of Balochistan have full ownership over their natural resources. If only a few individuals are benefiting from these resources, he said, the federal government stands with the common people of the province.

The defence minister warned that terrorism in Balochistan would be dealt with firmly. He reiterated that with the support of the Baloch people, Pakistan would defeat India and Afghanistan in what he described as proxy aggression.

Asif also said that following military defeat, India has resorted to proxy warfare against Pakistan, but these efforts would ultimately fail.