‘PM’s comments on Balochistan an expression of concern for

Baloch people’ New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) Amid a debate over Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’s comments on Balochistan in his IndependenceDay address, Government feels it was an expression of concernfor people of the Pakistan’s troubled region and that India’shumanity does not stop at its border. "It was an expression of concern. We feel for peopleinside the country as well as outside the country. If youexpect us to feel strongly about people inside the countrythen my humanity does not stop at my borders," officialsources said reflecting government’s view on the issue. They said the statement did not come out of the blue andit reflected the Prime Minister’s concerns for oppressedpeople of Balochistan. "It perfectly natural," they said, adding Modi’s commentsreflected that he was troubled by the human rights situationin Balochistan and the excesses committed by the Pakistanimilitary. Questions like with whom India will coordinate and whatNew Delhi was going to do in Balochistan are "premature andirrelevant", the sources said. In his Independence Day speech on Monday, Modi had talkedabout the situation in PoK, Gilgit and Balochistan and saidpeople from there have thanked him for raising their issues.PTI MPBUZM