Islamabad, March 14, 2025: Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif, has strongly condemned India’s role in sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan, following the deadly attack on the Jaffer Express. He also pointed to Afghanistan as a hub for training and harboring terrorists who infiltrate Pakistan to carry out attacks.
Addressing a joint press conference alongside Balochistan’s Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, General Sharif provided critical details of the March 11 assault, which was carried out by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants. The attackers targeted the Quetta-to-Peshawar train in the Bolan Pass, taking over 400 passengers hostage. However, Pakistan’s security forces executed a successful counterterrorism operation, rescuing all hostages and eliminating the assailants.
General Sharif unequivocally blamed India for orchestrating and financing terrorist activities in Balochistan, calling the Jaffer Express attack a continuation of India’s long-standing proxy war against Pakistan.
“The main sponsor of terrorism in Balochistan is our eastern neighbor. The Jaffer Express attack is yet another example of India’s ongoing strategy of destabilization,” he asserted.
He further exposed how Indian media played a central role in a coordinated disinformation campaign, using AI-generated footage and old video clips to glorify the terrorists.
“As soon as the attack took place, Indian media immediately began promoting narratives that aligned with the BLA’s objectives. They broadcast fabricated AI-generated videos to mislead the public and justify terrorism,” Sharif revealed.
To substantiate India’s involvement, the military showcased intelligence findings, including statements from captured Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav, who had earlier admitted to running covert operations in Balochistan under the direction of India’s intelligence agency, RAW.
Sharif also highlighted Afghanistan’s complicity in fostering terrorism against Pakistan. He stated that the Jaffer Express attackers had received training in Afghanistan, where terrorist masterminds operate freely under foreign influence.
“The terrorists who attacked the train had direct links to Afghanistan-based training camps. After the withdrawal of foreign forces, abandoned military equipment—including night-vision devices and weapons—has fallen into the hands of these militants, further emboldening their operations against Pakistan,” he explained.
Additionally, he pointed out that the illegal drug trade and smuggling networks facilitated by Afghanistan were being used to finance terror activities in Pakistan.
In response to the attack, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti reaffirmed that the BLA has no connection with the Baloch people, denouncing them as mercenaries working for foreign intelligence agencies.
“These militants do not represent Baloch identity or rights; they are simply terrorists serving their foreign masters, particularly India,” Bugti stated.
He further criticized the BLA’s false claims of being a “liberal” group, exposing their deep-rooted ties with RAW.
“The so-called BLA may claim to stand for a cause, but in reality, they are nothing more than India’s pawns,” Bugti said.
The Pakistani military and government vowed to continue their counterterrorism operations against Indian-backed militants and reaffirmed their commitment to eliminating terrorist networks operating with the support of Afghanistan.
