Victims of Samjhauta Express tragedy still await justice even after 17 years

Today marks the 17th anniversary of the tragic Samjhauta Express incident, yet justice continues to elude the victims.

In February 2007, a horrific act of terrorism perpetrated by Indian extremists resulted in the loss of 68 innocent lives, comprising both Pakistanis and Indians.

The incident unfolded as the Samjhauta Express, en route from Delhi to Lahore, was engulfed in flames near Panipat.

Among the fatalities were 43 Pakistanis, 10 Indian nationals, and 15 individuals whose identities remained unidentified.

Additionally, 10 Pakistanis and 2 Indians sustained injuries in the heinous attack.

The arrest of Kamal Chauhan, with ties to the RSS, uncovered a tangled web of conspiracies surrounding the tragedy.

Investigations revealed the involvement of RSS leaders such as Swami Aseemanand and his associates in orchestrating the Samjhauta Express attack, as disclosed before the Judicial Magistrate.

Indian Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Purohit admitted to training Hindu extremists to stoke tensions between Pakistan and India.

The organization responsible for the attack, Abhinav Bharat, was spearheaded by Colonel Purohit and retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay of the Indian Army in 2006, with Purohit serving in the intelligence corps.

Despite India's efforts to deflect responsibility through anti-Pakistan propaganda and false flag operations, the truth behind the Samjhauta Express tragedy has emerged.

However, justice has remained elusive for the victims and their families, highlighted by the acquittal of all four accused, including Swami Aseemanand, by a special court of India's National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Furthermore, India's promotion of Hindutva ideology at the official level has undermined its claim to secularism on the global stage.