Antony terms Pakistan charge of funding Taliban "totally baseless"

New Delhi, Oct 27 (ANI): Defence Minister A K Antony has termed Pakistan's allegations that India is providing funds for Taliban fighters as "absurd" and "totally baseless".

"It is absurd and totally baseless. India cannot support Taliban, which is the greatest threat to world peace," said Antony on the sidelines of a defence function here.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna said that India wants the Taliban and Talibanism to be totally eliminated.

Refuting Pakistan's allegations, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said India is not in the business of destabilizing its neighbors.

"We don't believe that there is any such evidence because we know we are not a country that believes in de-stabilizing our neighbors. We would not be interesting in fomenting any trouble in Pakistan, that's not our style, that's not the kind of policy we conduct. But if they feel they have any information to share with us, why should we refuse to receive it?," said Tharoor.

"They have had plenty of opportunities to meet Indian officials and so far we have not seen any evidence," he added.

The reaction came a day after Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said that India is providing funds for Taliban fighters located along the Afghanistan border for creating chaos in Pakistan.Malik said that he is completely "convinced" that India is one of those "certain hostile agencies" which are providing funds for the Taliban for creating unrest in Pakistan.

Malik also added he was ready to confront the Indian Government with evidence in this regard. (ANI)