Islamabad, Pakistan – In a dramatic turn of events, Pakistani officials have attributed the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train earlier this week to “terrorists” connected with “handlers in Afghanistan,” claiming that an Indian mastermind orchestrated the attack.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, head of the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stated during a press conference that the primary supporter behind this incident in Balochistan and others before it is Pakistan's eastern neighbor, India. "We must understand that in this terrorist incident and others in the past, India remains the main sponsor," he asserted.

Chaudhry condemned the portrayal of the incident by Indian media, which showcased videos supposedly provided by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the separatist group responsible for the incident. He accused Indian outlets of using deceptive imagery, including artificial intelligence-generated content and outdated footage.

The Siege and Rescue Efforts

The press briefing provided crucial details about the military operation, named Operation Green Bolan, which successfully liberated hundreds of train passengers after a tense 36-hour standoff that began on March 11. The military reported that 354 passengers were rescued, but the attack claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including 18 members of the armed forces, three railway workers, and five civilians.

According to Chaudhry, the attackers intercepted the train using an improvised explosive device (IED) shortly after it left Quetta, near Sibbi city. They targeted a paramilitary checkpoint, killing three soldiers before taking male passengers hostage while allowing women and children to remain in the train. The military’s response included deploying reconnaissance teams and drones to monitor the situation closely.

It was revealed that the BLA segregated hostages based on ethnicity, an assessment corroborated by survivors. Chaudhry noted that the attackers communicated with their "handlers in Afghanistan" via walkie-talkies, raising alarms about international terrorist networks operating in the region.

The Operation’s Execution

On the night of March 11, after eight hours of tension, some hostages were quietly released, walking to safety. The military realized the possible presence of suicide bombers among the hostages, prompting them to develop a carefully planned ground operation led by the elite Zarrar Company of the Army's Special Services Group (SSG).

By March 12, the military had neutralized several BLA fighters, providing an opportunity for hostages to escape amid the chaos. Chaudhry claimed that the precise planning and execution of the rescue resulted in no casualties among the hostages, despite all BLA fighters on-site being killed in the operation.

Reactions from India and Afghanistan

Following the military's claims, neither India nor Afghanistan responded immediately. However, officials from both nations have historically denied allegations of complicity in supporting terrorist activities in Pakistan. India's Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected Pakistan's claims as “baseless,” urging Pakistan to focus on its internal issues rather than shifting blame. Likewise, Afghanistan's Taliban-led government refuted any connections with the attackers, emphasizing the need for Pakistan to address its security concerns independently.

With ongoing tensions and accusations between these neighboring countries, recent developments highlight the complex web of geopolitical intrigue, with the specter of terrorism casting a long shadow over South Asia.

As the global community watches closely, the urgency for dialogue and cooperation to quell these tensions remains paramount. How the situation unfolds will undoubtedly have lasting implications for regional stability.