Force no solution to Baloch people`s aspirations: India

New Delhi, Aug 28: In a virtual condemnation of the killing of prominent Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in a Pakistani military attack, India on Monday said Islamabad should address the "grievances and aspirations" of people of Balochistan through dialogue and not military force.

New Delhi, which has been protesting against excessive army action in Balochistan, termed as "unfortunate" the killing of the veteran Baloch leader and observed that "military force can never solve political problems".

"This military attack in which two of his (Bugti`s) grandsons were also killed and the heavy casualties in the continuing military operations in Balochistan underline the need for peaceful dialogue to address the grievances and aspirations of people of Balochistan," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said here.

Describing the killing as a "tragic loss to the people of Balochistan and Pakistan," Sarna said Bugti`s death leaves a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.

India has been protesting against the use of excessive force by Pakistan against the people of Balochistan who are seeking their rightful share in the resources like gas reserves that their region has and is being "denied" to them by Islamabad.

Pakistani military has been conducting military operations for the last six months to quell a virtual uprising in the region and has used heavy weaponry including helicopter gunships and missiles. Zeenews.com 28.8.06