ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 15 (UPI) -- Pakistani Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has denied media reports that he ran training camps for Kashmiri separatists in the 1980s.
"I never ran any militant camp. I have nothing to do with any militancy or guerrilla warfare," Rashid said. He said he provided food and shelter, as is expected in Muslim tradition, and nothing more, the Pakistani Dawn reported Tuesday.
Monday the Daily Times of Pakistan reported that Yasin Malik, leader of a major Kashmiri separatist group, said Rashid set up a camp where around 3,500 militants were trained in guerrilla warfare. Later Malik said he was misquoted in the report.
A spokesman for India's Foreign Ministry said Malik's "revelations" were a matter of great concern. "It is particularly serious that people directly involved in such activities continue to occupy high positions in Pakistan," he said.
The spokesman reiterated India's position that Pakistan is not doing enough to curb cross-border movements of militants into Kashmir.
