Taliban Refutes Afghanistan Link To Pakistan Train Hijack, Says 'We Categorically Reject....'

Hours after the Pakistani security forces ended an operation to rescue hostages from a train hijacked by Baloch insurgents, the Taliban on Thursday rejected Pakistan’s claims that Afghanistan-based militants were involved in the hijacking of a Jaffar Express train in Balochistan.

On Tuesday, separatist militants representing The Baloch Liberation Army hijacked the passenger train Jaffar Express traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, taking hundreds of passengers hostage in the Bolan region of Balochistan.

Taking it to X, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, "We categorically reject baseless allegations by the Pakistani army spokesperson linking the attack on a passenger train in Balochistan province with Afghanistan, and urge the Pakistani side to focus on resolving their own security and internal problems instead of such irresponsible remarks," said

The Taliban's reaction came after reports citing intelligence inputs on direct communication between Taliban leaders and the attackers claimed that Pakistan accused Afghanistan-based terrorist leaders of orchestrating the hijacking of Jaffar Express.

About The Train Hijack

The Jaffar Express, carrying 440 passengers in nine coaches, was going from Quetta to Peshawar when militants derailed it using explosives and hijacked it near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri in a tunnel 160 kilometres from Quetta.

Lt Gen Sharif said that on March 11, around 1 PM, terrorists blew up a railway track in the Bolan Pass area of Osi Pur.

Twenty-one civilians and four soldiers were killed in a militant attack that took place in Pakistan's Balochistan on the night of March 11 as the insurgents hijacked a train carrying 440 passengers. The Pakistan Army was able to execute all the militants and safely evacuate the remaining passengers by the night of March 12.

As per reports, around 30 people who sustained injuries had been sent to hospitals.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday when they said they killed six soldiers.

This was the first time the BLA or any insurgent group in the Balochistan province has resorted to hijacking a passenger train, although since last year, they have stepped up their attacks on security forces, installations and foreigners in different parts of the province.

Pakistani Army spokesperson on Wednesday confirmed that security forces had ended an operation to rescue hostages from a train hijacked by Baloch insurgents, killing all 33 militants involved. The spokesperson said 21 passengers and four Pakistani soldiers were killed during the operation.

“The armed forces successfully concluded the operation on (Wednesday) evening by killing all terrorists and rescuing all passengers safely,” Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said.