The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Friday has strongly denied suggestions made by the Pakistan foreign office that India had a hand in the Jaffar Express attack.
"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 on to others," MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told the media.
Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan on Thursday presented evidence of calls traced to Afghanistan regarding the Jaffar Express hijacking. When questioned about Pakistan's stance shift from India to Afghanistan concerning terrorist attacks, he said there was no policy change and reaffirmed their belief in India's involvement in terrorism against Pakistan.
’In our region, unfortunately, we have many forces against peace who do not want to see Pakistan reap the dividends of its unprecedented and sincere efforts in counter-terrorism and in building a peaceful region," Khan said.
According to Dawn, Khan added that Pakistan had been a victim of terrorism that was planned, orchestrated and sponsored by forces who were operating outside the country’s borders.
’In our region, unfortunately, we have many forces against peace who do not want to see Pakistan reap the dividends of its unprecedented and sincere efforts in counter-terrorism and in building a peaceful region,“ he said.
The spokesperson alleged that the terrorist attack against Jaffar Express was also “orchestrated and directed by terrorist ring leaders operating from abroad”.
The Jaffar Express hijacking on March 11 involved over 450 passengers and resulted in 58 fatalities, including 21 passengers, four soldiers, and 33 militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist organisation. The militants, armed with rocket launchers and guns, stormed the Jaffar Express, targeting passengers based on their region and executing some on the spot. Survivors said they had little to survive on during the ordeal. Security forces launched a large-scale operation involving special troops and helicopters to regain control of the train, according to reports.
Released passengers who reached Quetta told Pakistani media that BLA fighters voluntarily freed women, children, and elderly individuals soon after seizing the train.
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