New Delhi/Islamabad: India has firmly denied Pakistan’s claims of its involvement in the recent Jaffar Express hijack, dismissing the accusations as “baseless” and urging Islamabad to focus on its internal security challenges instead of blaming external forces.
India Condemns Pakistan’s Allegations
On Friday, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), rebuffed allegations from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, stating, “We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan. The entire world is aware of where the epicenter of global terrorism lies. Instead of shifting blame, Pakistan should introspect on its internal security failures.”
Pakistan Links Attack to Afghan-Based Militants
Pakistan, on the other hand, has attempted to link the Jaffar Express attack to Afghanistan-based militants. Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan claimed that the perpetrators were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan. However, Islamabad has yet to provide any concrete evidence to substantiate these claims.
Rising India-Pakistan Tensions
Tensions between the two neighboring nations have escalated following the incident, with India maintaining that Pakistan should address its domestic security issues rather than making unfounded accusations against New Delhi.
During his weekly press briefing, Shafqat Ali Khan accused India of “being involved in terrorism in Pakistan,” particularly pointing at the Jaffar Express attack. He claimed, “The terrorists involved had maintained contact with their ring leaders based in Afghanistan.”
Pakistan-Afghanistan Relations Strained
Meanwhile, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan continue to rise amid cross-border skirmishes. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of harboring the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which allegedly launches attacks on Pakistani soil. However, Afghanistan has denied these accusations, further straining diplomatic ties between the two nations.
Pakistan Army’s Operation and BLA’s Rebuttal
Following the train hijacking, Pakistan’s security forces claimed to have successfully eliminated all 33 militants belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), responsible for seizing the train carrying over 400 passengers. However, the Pakistani Army has yet to release any photographic or video evidence of the so-called “successful operation,” raising doubts over its claims.
In response, the BLA has refuted Pakistan’s assertions, with spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch stating, “The battle is still ongoing on multiple fronts.” He further alleged that the Pakistani Army had failed to secure victory and had abandoned its soldiers, leaving them to die.
Eyewitnesses among passengers who reached Quetta after the attack corroborated claims that BLA fighters had voluntarily released women, children, and elderly passengers shortly after taking control of the train.
BLA Challenges Pakistan’s Claims
The BLA has challenged Pakistani authorities to allow independent journalists and neutral observers into the conflict zone, arguing that the military’s reluctance to do so is indicative of a cover-up rather than a decisive victory.
With rising tensions, the incident has once again underscored the volatility in Pakistan’s Balochistan region and the growing instability along its borders with both India and Afghanistan.
