• Source:JND
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At the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his long-standing allegation that “foreign hands” were behind the March hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan. His claims have found little traction internationally, with many viewing them as another attempt to externalise Pakistan’s internal security challenges.

The Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with 440 passengers, was intercepted by armed attackers near Balochistan’s Sibi area on March 11. The hostage crisis lasted two days, leaving at least 26 dead, including 18 security personnel. The Pakistani military said that “all 33 terrorists” involved were neutralized during the clearance operation. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group designated as a terrorist outfit by Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the assault, stating it was part of their insurgency in the region.

Despite the BLA’s open admission, Prime Minister Sharif claimed that Pakistan had “irrefutable evidence” of foreign involvement. “We have evidence of foreign hands in the Jaffar Express train hostage incident, as well as countless other terrorist attacks against us in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Sharif said at the summit, without naming any country. He added that those who use terrorism for political ends must understand that “the world no longer buys this fictitious narrative.”

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Pakistan’s Blame Game On Train Hijack Falls Flat

Back in Pakistan, his aide Rana Sanaullah went further, directly accusing India of orchestrating the hijack through networks based in Afghanistan. Speaking to Dawn, Sanaullah alleged, “India is behind this attack. There is no doubt about it. These operations are being run from Afghanistan, where Baloch rebels get safe haven.”

However, these assertions stand in stark contrast to independent reporting. Reuters and other international agencies confirmed the BLA’s claim of responsibility, while no evidence linking India has been presented publicly. Analysts note that Pakistan has frequently accused India of fomenting unrest in Balochistan, but such claims are rarely substantiated.

The train hijack saw over 400 passengers trapped, with rebels initially releasing women and children while detaining army personnel and government officials. Pakistani forces launched a rescue operation, freeing more than 150 hostages. Intense gunfights followed in the mountainous terrain, leaving dozens dead on both sides.

At the SCO summit in China, Sharif’s remarks came just hours after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned terrorism in all forms, indirectly hitting out at Pakistan. Referring to the recent Pahalgam attack, Modi said nations must reject “double standards” and stand united against terror.

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While Sharif sought to turn the spotlight outward, international observers remain unconvinced. For many, the Balochistan hijack underscores Pakistan’s chronic struggle with insurgency, one that no amount of blame-shifting can disguise.