GUWAHATI: India has strongly rejected Pakistan’s claims suggesting its involvement in the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the accusations, urging Pakistan to focus on its internal issues rather than shifting blame, on Friday, March 14.
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MEA spokesperson of India, Randhir 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 on to others."
The statement followed remarks from Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, who alleged that the rebels behind the attack were in contact with ringleaders based in Afghanistan. He claimed that the attackers maintained direct communication with Afghanistan-based planners throughout the incident and reiterated Pakistan’s calls for Afghanistan to prevent groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) from using its soil for attacks.
Pakistan’s security forces have reported that all 33 BLA militants involved in the hijacking have been eliminated. The attack took place on Tuesday when the Jaffar Express, travelling from Quetta to Peshawar with over 400 passengers on board, was seized by armed rebels. The attackers, reportedly wearing suicide vests, blew up a railway track and opened fire before taking control of the train.
The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners, activists, and missing persons allegedly abducted by the military. The group threatened to start executing hostages if their demands were not met within 48 hours. While the BLA initially claimed to be holding 214 hostages, security sources later reported that 425 passengers were aboard during the hijacking.
In response to the attack, Pakistan Railways has suspended all train services between Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan until security agencies declare the route safe.
