india-slams-pakistan-over-balochistan-train-attack-blame

India has strongly rejected Pakistan's allegations that New Delhi is behind the unrest in Balochistan, where separatist movements have been active for decades.

 

In a sharp response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed Pakistan’s claims, calling them baseless and urging Islamabad to focus on its own internal failures instead of blaming others.

 

The statement came after a senior Pakistani official accused India of sponsoring terrorism and attempting to destabilise neighbouring countries. However, India has reiterated its stance, emphasising that the epicentre of global terrorism is well known to the world.

 

Pakistan’s accusations followed the hijacking of the Jaffar Express by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) during its journey from Quetta to Peshawar.

 

The 30-hour siege resulted in the deaths of 21 hostages and four security personnel. The BLA rebels reportedly remained in contact with their handlers based in Afghanistan throughout the attack.

 

Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, claimed that the train attack was orchestrated from abroad, though he did not directly name India.

 

When asked if Pakistan was shifting away from previously blaming India for BLA-related incidents, he denied any change in policy, insisting that India is involved in sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan.

 

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) is one of several armed groups fighting for an independent Balochistan.

 

The mineral-rich region, Pakistan’s largest and most sparsely populated province, has witnessed ongoing insurgencies since Partition in 1947. 

 

Rebel groups claim that Balochistan was forcefully merged with Pakistan and have targeted security personnel and Chinese-funded infrastructure projects in recent months.

 

Amid escalating violence, allegations of forced disappearances by Pakistani state forces have further fuelled local discontent.

 

Pakistan has repeatedly accused India of backing Baloch separatists, a charge that India has consistently denied, stating that Islamabad’s failure to address internal unrest is the real cause of instability.