India has firmly dismissed Pakistan’s allegations regarding
its involvement in the Jaffar Express hijacking in Balochistan, calling
them baseless and an attempt to deflect from Pakistan’s internal challenges.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), through its spokesperson Randhir
Jaiswal, urged Pakistan to focus on addressing its own issues instead of
falsely blaming India.
India’s Response to Pakistan’s Allegations
Responding to accusations made by Pakistan’s foreign
office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, Jaiswal stated, “We strongly
reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan. The whole world knows where
the epicenter of global terrorism lies. Pakistan should look inwards instead of
pointing fingers and shifting the blame for its own internal problems and
failures onto others.”
This sharp rebuttal follows Pakistan’s claim that the Balochistan
Liberation Army (BLA) rebels responsible for the attack were in direct
contact with handlers based in Afghanistan. Pakistan has repeatedly accused
both Afghanistan and India of backing insurgent groups operating within its
borders.
Pakistan’s Accusations and Afghanistan’s Involvement
Pakistan’s foreign office insisted that the Jaffar
Express attack was orchestrated by Afghanistan-based elements. Shafqat Ali
Khan stated, “Terrorists were in direct communications with
Afghanistan-based planners throughout the incident.” He added that Pakistan
has consistently urged Afghanistan to prevent its soil from being used by
militant groups such as the BLA to launch attacks against Pakistan.
He further demanded that Afghanistan hold the
perpetrators, organizers, and financiers of the attack accountable,
ensuring they face justice. While addressing questions regarding previous
claims of Indian involvement, he clarified that Pakistan’s stance remains
unchanged: “There is no shift in our policy. India is involved in sponsoring
terrorism against Pakistan. In this particular incident, we have evidence of
calls being traced to Afghanistan.”
Additionally, he accused India of attempting to destabilize
neighboring nations and conducting a global assassination campaign. He
also criticized Indian media for allegedly glorifying the BLA, which he
claimed reflects India’s unofficial stance.
Pakistan’s Operation and BLA’s Counterclaims
Following the train hijacking, Pakistan’s security
forces claimed to have neutralized all 33 BLA rebels, who had taken more
than 400 passengers hostage. However, the operation has been met with
skepticism as no photographs or videos have been released to verify these
claims.
The BLA, through its spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch,
refuted Pakistan’s narrative, asserting that the battle is ongoing across
multiple fronts. The group also accused the Inter-Services Public Relations
(ISPR) of covering up military failures.
Additionally, released passengers reported that BLA
fighters voluntarily freed women, children, and elderly passengers soon
after hijacking the train. The BLA has challenged Pakistani authorities to
allow independent journalists and impartial observers into the conflict
zone to verify the situation. They argue that the army’s reluctance to grant
access is evidence of its defeat.
India’s Stand on the Matter
India remains firm in rejecting any involvement in the
incident and continues to emphasize Pakistan’s responsibility in handling its
internal security concerns. The MEA’s statement makes it clear that Pakistan’s
recurring attempts to blame India for domestic instability lack merit and
credibility in the international community.
The geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan remain
high, with such allegations only adding fuel to an already strained
relationship. While Pakistan insists on foreign involvement, India continues to
highlight Pakistan’s role in harboring and exporting terrorism.
As the situation unfolds, independent investigations and
international scrutiny will play a crucial role in determining the true
origins of the attack and addressing the larger security concerns in the
region.