In a fresh spat between two sub-continental neighbors, India has hit back at Pakistan by terming as ‘baseless” Islamabad’s accusation that Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), alongside Afghanistan’s  National Directorate of Security (NDS), were behind last month’s Dasu bus explosion in which at least 13 people, including nine Chinese nationals, were killed.

In a bizarre charge, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi saw a nexus among RAW, NDS and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the Dasu bomb blast.

On July 14, nine Chinese citizens as also four Pakistanis died when a shuttle bus they were traveling in plunged into a deep ravine after an explosion on board.

The bus was ferrying the Chinese and Pakistani workers to an under-construction tunnel site of the Dasu hydropower project in the remote Kohistan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, Qureshi on Thursday said Afghanistan’s soil was used for the attack and the investigators were “clearly looking at the traces of its planning and executing meeting with the nexus of NDS and RAW”.

According to Reuters, an Indian government official said the charge was baseless and pointed out that Pakistan has made similar accusations repeatedly in the past.

The official was apparently referring to Pakistan’s allegation around a month back about RAW’s involvement in the June 23 blast near the residence of proscribed Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed in Lahore’s Johar Town that killed three people and left 24 injured.

In a strongly-worded statement in New Delhi, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Arindam Bagchi had then asked Pakistan to set its own house in order by taking action against terrorists enjoying safe sanctuaries in its territory.

The Dasu attack had evoked strong reactions in China, which has pumped in huge sums of money in infrastructure projects in Pakistan. Following Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s statement asking Pakistan to take to task the perpetrators of the crime, Pakistan was forced to form a joint investigation team by including Chinese officials.

On Thursday, Qureshi alleged that the attack was carried out by “elements” opposed to Chinese investments in Pakistan.

Qureshi said the investigators examined footage of 36 CCTV cameras and the area under the investigation was almost 1,400 kilometers.

He noted that the Pakistani authorities had traced the handlers of the incident, saying that the government now knew who they were connected with.

“The vehicle used [in the attack] was smuggled into Pakistan.”

The minister went on to say that the first target of perpetrators was the Diamer-Bhasha dam site and not the Dasu hydropower project.

"When they could not succeed [to target Diamer-Bhasha dam site], they targeted the Dasu project.”

Qureshi appreciated the Chinese leadership for showing patience and understanding of the situation.

“The Chinese are satisfied with the investigation and have been kept in the loop.”

The minister said the government had strengthened security around development projects.

“All CPEC [China-Pakistan Economic Corridor] projects will continue and be completed in time.”

The minister asserted that the Pakistan-China “all-weather“ strategic partnership would not fall prey to such attacks and continue to strengthen and expand.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) DG Javed Iqbal claimed 14 different characters were involved in the attack and was headed by a person named Tariq who was a member of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

"We have arrested three suspects [out of the total 14 characters involved]."

The K-P CTD chief said Tariq and another suspect Muawiya were trained in Afghanistan by RAW and NDS to carry out the attack, adding that the suicide bomber Khalid aka Sheikh was an Afghan national.

Meanwhile, China appreciated Pakistan’s “active efforts” to investigate the bus tragedy.

 “The Pakistani side’s investigation into the terrorist attack has seen major progress within a short period of time. China pays great attention to this and expresses appreciation to Pakistan’s active efforts,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

The Chinese spokesperson said both countries will keep strengthening security cooperation mechanisms to ensure the safety of Chinese projects, people and institutions in Pakistan.

(SAM)