India has strongly rejected Pakistan’s allegations of involvement in the recent Jaffar Express hijacking, calling them “baseless”. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Friday emphasised that the world knows where the epicenter of global terrorism lies, urging Pakistan to focus on its internal issues rather than shifting blame for its own failures.
MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “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.”
Earlier on Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan claimed that the rebels involved in the attack on the Jaffar Express were in contact with ring leaders in Afghanistan.
“India has been involved in terrorism in Pakistan. In the particular attack on Jaffar express, the terrorists had been in contact with their handlers and ring leaders in Afghanistan,” Shafqat Ali Khan said.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been strained due to frequent border skirmishes and Islamabad claiming that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was using Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denies the allegations.
The statement came after Pakistan security forces claimed that they had eliminated all 33 Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) rebels who had hijacked the Jaffar Express which was carrying more than 400 passengers.
The Pakistani Army have not released any photographs or video of the claimed “successful operation”. The rebel BLA on the other hand claims that the ISPR was covering up defeat.
(With ANI inputs)