Tuesday, September 5 2006 12:36 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: India's spy network, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), has been blamed for the troubles in Balochistan province at a meeting chaired by President Pervez Musharraf.

Media reports on Tuesday did not directly quote Musharraf, except saying he did not rule out a foreign hand in the developments in Balochistan, the country's largest province where the situation reached a flashpoint Aug 26 with the killing of rebel leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in a military operation.

"The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) pumped huge money, into the province, transferred arms and ammunition via Kishan Garh into Dera Bugti, from various routes, all of which have now been sealed," it was disclosed at the meeting, The News International said.

The accusation came amidst a low-key announcement by the foreign office of a possible meeting between Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) Summit in Havana, Cuba later this month.

Significantly, Islamabad ruled out any meddling in Balochistan by Kabul, where Musharraf is scheduled to travel later this month to confer with his counterpart Hamid Karzai.

Foreign office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said territories in Iran and Afghanistan were being used to foment trouble in Balochistan.

It was alleged that Indian consulates in Kandahar and the Iranian city of Zahidan were being used to send arms and ammunition to certain parts of Balochistan for creating disturbance through anti-Pakistan elements, the newspaper said, not citing any source in particular.

Musharraf said the problem existed only in small pockets of the province as most parts remained peaceful. "The Government will ensure its writ as it is very important to bring law and order under control for the safety of the people of the province," Musharraf was quoted as saying.

"All arms supply routes have been sealed both from India and Afghanistan and it is the key reason that Bugti's 'farari' (rebel) commanders started surrendering," military spokesman, Major General Sultan Shahin, said.

He said that surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), 107mm rockets and other lethal weapons were recovered by the law enforcement agencies in the province.