Balochistan dossier haunts govt

The government continues to clarify its position on the joint statement issued with Pakistan on the sidelines of the NAM summit in Egypt particularly after claims from Pakistan that it has handed over a dossier on the role of Indian intelligence agencies in Balochistan.

In fact, India had accepted the mention of Balochistan in the joint statement, a move which seems to be backfiring.

Already under fire for the joint statement with Pakistan, the government woke up to this headache - a report in the Pakistani newspaper Dawn which said evidence was given to India of its involvement in Balochistan. However, it was promptly denied by the government.

But the denials haven't doused the flames.

"It is completely under the PM's control. The External Affairs Minister may dress up for all these meetings but his contribution appears to be minimum," said Yashwant Sinha, senior leader, BJP.

Privately, many Congress leaders concede the BJP has gained ground on this issue.

Congress sources say they had no idea a reference to Balochistan would be made in the statement though publically they are rallying around the PM.

While the foreign secretary is getting much of the flak, the PM himself has publically admitted that he and PM Gilani had seen the joint statement before it was issued.