- Jaffar Express Attack planned from abroad, says FO.
- Afghanistan -related terrorists via intercepted calls.
- Pakistan gives priority to links with Afghanistan despite concerns.
Islamabad: One day after the success of rescue operations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that India was behind the fatal terrorist attack against the Jaffar Express, adding that it had been orchestrated by the management of a terrorist organization based abroad.
FO’s spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan, addressing his weekly briefing in Islamabad, said that Jaffar Express’s rescue was completed, and intelligence suggests that terrorists were in contact with their partners in Afghanistan.
The declaration comes after the security forces eliminated the 33 terrorists of the Balutchistan Liberation Army (BLA) who had diverted the Jaffar Express which transported more than 400 passengers – who were taken hostage.
The army said that all hostages had been released, but 21 passengers were martyred by the terrorists before the customs clearance operation begins. In addition, four FC staff members were also martyred during the attack in the Mushqaf region of the Bolan district.
The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that intercepted calls have confirmed links between attackers and Afghanistan. “Terrorists have safe paradise in Afghanistan, and Pakistan has repeatedly urged the Afghan temporary government to prevent groups like the BLA from using its soil for terrorism,” he said.
He also mentioned that Pakistan does not discuss diplomatic contacts on public forums but has always shared detailed evidence of these incidents with Afghanistan.
He stressed that Pakistan’s main objective remains on strengthening friendly and close links with Afghanistan, while counter-terrorism remains a key area of cooperation with international partners.
Following the operation, the director general of public relations between public services, Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said that Jaffer Express incident had changed the rules of the game.
“The one who did it will be tracked down and brought to justice,” he added. He added that terrorists had nothing to do with Islam, Pakistan and Balutchistan.
In a statement, the ISPR said that intelligence reports unequivocally confirmed that the attack had been orchestrated and led by terrorist leaders operating in Afghanistan, who were in direct communication with the terrorists throughout the incident.
