Taliban Dismisses Pakistan’s Allegations, Urges Focus on Internal Security
Islamabad/Kabul: The Taliban government has strongly refuted Pakistan’s claims that militants based in Afghanistan were responsible for the recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan. The attack, which took place on Tuesday, resulted in tragic loss of life and a large-scale security operation.
In response to Pakistan’s allegations, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, stated that Islamabad should focus on addressing its own security challenges instead of making what he called “irresponsible remarks.”
“We categorically reject these baseless allegations by the Pakistani military, linking the attack to Afghanistan. Instead of shifting blame, Pakistan should work on resolving its internal security issues,” Balkhi said.
The Jaffar Express, carrying 440 passengers, was targeted by militants who derailed the train using explosives near Gudalar and Piru Kunri, approximately 160 km from Quetta. A large-scale rescue operation followed, and on Wednesday, Pakistan’s military declared the mission successful, reporting that all 33 Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants involved in the hijacking had been killed.
Tragically, 21 passengers and four soldiers also lost their lives during the operation. On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Balochistan to assess the situation and express solidarity with the affected communities.
The incident has heightened tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with Pakistan citing intelligence reports linking the attackers to militant groups operating from Afghan territory. The Taliban, however, has rejected any involvement, urging Pakistan to focus on strengthening its own security measures.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
