NEW DELHI: After Pakistan suggested India’s involvement in the recent train hijacking in Balochistan, ministry of external affairs (MEA) released a statement on Friday rejecting ‘baseless allegations’ and asked their neighboour to look inwards for ‘its own internal problems.’
During a press briefing on Thursday, Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan presented evidence of calls traced to Afghanistan regarding the hijacking. When questioned about Pakistan’s stance shift from India to Afghanistan concerning terrorist attacks, he maintained their position, stating there was no policy change and reaffirmed their belief in India’s involvement in terrorism against Pakistan.
Since Tuesday’s attack, Pakistan’s military, government and media allies have implicitly suggested Indian involvement in the train assault, whilst overlooking significant security lapses by their military and intelligence services.
MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal responded to media queries regarding remarks made by the Pakistan side, saying, “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.”
Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s foreign affairs ministry issued a statement rejecting Pakistan’s claims, urging them to address their internal security concerns rather than making unfounded accusations.
The Jaffar Express incident on March 11, involving over 450 passengers, resulted in 58 fatalities, including 21 passengers, four soldiers, and 33 militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist organisation.
Pakistan consistently accuses India of supporting groups like the BLA to create unrest in Balochistan, allegations that New Delhi firmly denies.
The Balochistan insurgency, rooted in local issues of poverty and political marginalisation, has continued for decades. Indo-Pakistani relations, which deteriorated following the 2019 Pulwama attack, continue to be strained with minimal prospects for diplomatic engagement.
