Pakistan has accused India and Afghanistan of orchestrating the recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan claiming that the attackers were in direct contact with their handlers in Afghanistan. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Friday Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry spokesperson for the Pakistani military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) alleged that India was the mastermind behind the attack which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including security personnel and civilians.
Chaudhry further accused Indian media of amplifying the claims made by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the separatist group responsible for the hijacking, stating that Indian news outlets used AI-generated images and old footage to shape the narrative. He provided details of Operation Green Bolan, the military mission launched to rescue the passengers from the hijacked train. According to him, 354 passengers were successfully rescued during the 36-hour standoff that began on March 11. The BLA, which intercepted the train using an explosive device, allegedly separated passengers based on ethnicity and took the men hostage. The military’s elite Zarrar Company carried out the rescue operation, killing 33 BLA fighters without any hostage casualties.
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry doubled down on the accusations, stating that intercepted communications proved the attackers were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan. The ministry also accused the Afghan Taliban of providing safe havens to anti-Pakistan groups, urging Kabul to take action against such elements.
Both India and Afghanistan have strongly denied the allegations. India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed the claims as “baseless,” asserting that Pakistan should focus on its internal security challenges instead of blaming others. The Afghan government also rejected the accusations, urging Pakistan to address its security concerns internally rather than making “irresponsible statements.”
The allegations come amid growing tensions in the region, with Pakistan repeatedly accusing its neighbors of harboring armed groups that pose threats to its national security. The situation remains volatile as Pakistan vows to take stronger action against what it calls “foreign-sponsored terrorism.”
