ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The Foreign Office (FO) asserted on Thursday that India was responsible for the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express, claiming that the assault was planned by the leadership of a terrorist organisation based abroad.
During his weekly briefing in Islamabad, FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that the rescue operation following the Jaffar Express attack had been completed. He further revealed that intelligence reports indicated the attackers were in communication with their associates in Afghanistan.
His statement followed a military operation in which security forces neutralised all 33 terrorists from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), who had hijacked the Jaffar Express. The train, which had more than 400 passengers on board, was taken hostage in a violent assault.
According to the military, all hostages were eventually rescued, but tragically, 21 passengers were killed by the terrorists before security forces could intervene. Additionally, four Frontier Corps (FC) personnel lost their lives during the attack in the Mushqaf area of Bolan district.
The FO spokesperson further disclosed that intercepted communications provided concrete evidence of links between the attackers and Afghanistan. He reiterated Pakistan’s ongoing calls for the Afghan interim government to take action against groups like the BLA, which allegedly use Afghan territory as a base for terrorist activities. “The terrorists have safe havens in Afghanistan, and Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan interim government to prevent groups like the BLA from using its soil for terrorism,” he added.
While refraining from discussing diplomatic exchanges publicly, he emphasised that Pakistan had repeatedly shared substantial evidence of such incidents with Afghan authorities. He also highlighted that Pakistan remains committed to fostering strong and friendly relations with Afghanistan, while counterterrorism efforts continue to be a key focus in its international partnerships.
Following the operation, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stated that the Jaffar Express attack had altered the rules of engagement. He vowed that those responsible would be tracked down and held accountable.
He also stressed that the terrorists had no connection with Islam, Pakistan, or Balochistan, and their only objective was to spread instability. “Whoever did this will be hunted down and brought to justice,” he warned.
In an official statement, ISPR confirmed that intelligence reports had conclusively established that the attack was orchestrated and directed by terrorist leaders based in Afghanistan, who maintained direct contact with the attackers throughout the incident.
