Pakistan holds India responsible for Jaffar Express terror attack

The Foreign Office (FO) on Thrusday held India reponsible for the attack on the Jaffar Express, stating that the act of terrorism was orchestrated by the leadership of the banned outfit operating from abroad.

During a weekly press briefing, FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan revealed that the terrorists involved in the recent attack in Balochistan had been in contact with their accomplices in Afghanistan.

He stated that traced calls from the incident have confirmed links with Afghanistan.

These terrorists “have safe havens there," he stated, adding that Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan interim government to prevent militant groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) from using its territory as a base for attacks.

Jaffar Express rescue operation concludes; 21 passengers died before clearance: DG ISPR

He emphasised that Pakistan remains a victim of cross-border terrorism and reiterated the country's stance on engaging diplomatically with Afghanistan to address security concerns.

"Our priority remains fostering friendly and cooperative ties with Afghanistan, but terrorism is a major challenge for us. We are actively working with our international partners to counter this threat," he added.

When asked about diplomatic engagements, the spokesperson refrained from sharing specific details but confirmed that Pakistan has previously provided Afghanistan with concrete evidence of such incidents.

Read: Freed hostage recalls chilling details of Bolan train hijack

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, confirmed on Wednesday that security forces successfully completed the clearance operation after terrorists hijacked the Jaffar Express in Bolan district, Balochistan.

He assured that no passengers were harmed during the clearance phase, but 21 passengers were killed by terrorists before the operation began.

Speaking to a private news channel, Lt Gen Chaudhry stated that 33 terrorists were eliminated, while four Frontier Corps personnel embraced martyrdom. He reiterated that Pakistan would not allow its citizens to be targeted by extremist violence.

“No one can be permitted to make innocent people the victim of their barbarism in the streets, trains, buses, or markets because of their misleading ideology," he said, emphasizing that the Jaffar Express attack marked a turning point in counterterrorism operations.

The attackers were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan, highlighting the cross-border links of the operation, the ISPR chief confirmed.