On Thursday, Pak’s Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that rebels involved in the deadly attack were in contact with ring leaders in Afghanistan.
New Delhi: India has recently strongly rejected Pakistan’s claims that it had a hand in the Jaffar Express attack. The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said that the allegation made by the neighbouring country is baseless. “We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan. The whole world knows where the epicentre of global terrorism lies. Pakistan should look inward instead of pointing fingers and shifting the blame for its internal problems and failures onto others,” Jaiswal said.
On Thursday, Pak’s Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that rebels involved in the deadly attack were in contact with ring leaders in Afghanistan.
“India has been involved in terrorism in Pakistan. In the particular attack on Jaffar express, the terrorists had been in contact with their handlers and ring leaders in Afghanistan,” Shafqat Ali Khan said during a weekly press briefing.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have worsened, largely due to persistent border disputes and Pakistan’s claim that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is using Afghan land to launch attacks in Pakistan. In contrast, Kabul denies these allegations.
This statement came after a report from Pakistani security forces indicating that they had eliminated all 33 members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), who had seized the Jaffar Express, a train carrying more than 400 passengers.
Notably, Pak Army has not issued any evidence such as picture and video of the claimed “successful operation”. Meanwhile, BLA claimed that ISPR was covering up defeat.
Jeeyand Baloch, the spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), stated that “the conflict continues on various fronts.” He asserted that the Pakistani military has “not secured success in combat nor been able to rescue its captured personnel.” Baloch further alleged that the government has “neglected its own troops” and allowed them “to perish as captives.”
As per the released passengers, who reached Quetta, the BLA rebels voluntarily freed elderly, women and children after taking control of the train.
The rebels also challenged Pakistan government to allow independent journalists into the conflict zone. The group argues that the military’s hesitance to allow such access indicates its “defeat.”
(with agency inputs)
