Pakistan connects the abduction of a train with Afghan leaders and Indian leader | Conflict news

Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan on Friday claims that the abduction of the Jaffar Express train earlier this week was carried out by “terrorists” who communicate with “leaders in Afghanistan”, while claiming that India is a leader behind it.

“We have to understand that in this terrorist incident in Belokistan and others before that the main sponsor is Eastern Neighbor (India),” said Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chatri, CEO of Military Media Wings for Public Relationships (ISPR), during an Ilmabad.

Chaudi also referred to the media coverage made by Indian major channels that rely on videos shared by the Baloch Liberator Army (BLA), the separatist group responsible for the attack, and accused them of using images generated by artificial intelligence or old incidents.

During the briefing, which lasted more than an hour, Chaudi, along with Belokistan's Chief Minister Sarfra Bti, suggested some details about military operation -Green Bolan Operation, this ended with the release of hundreds of train passengers after a 36-hour opposition, which began on March 11.

According to Chaudi a total 354 passengers were savedWhile 26 security passengers were killed. In addition, 33 fighters belonging to BLA were also killed.

While the military earlier said 21 civilians or security officers had been killed, Chaudi said that since security staff had cleared the area, more people were found, some of whom were later killed.

Of the 26 killed, 18 belonged to the army or paramilitary forces, three were railway transport officers, and five were civilian passengers.

“Air units” for intelligence

Ceudri said that four hours after the train left Queta, Blaz's attackers captured the train 32 km (20 miles) from the city of Sibi, just before entering a tunnel in the Bolan Pass area, known for its rough, mountain landscape.

“The BLA terrorists captured the train using an impromptu explosive device. Previously, they began their attack in a large number and came across a paramilitary checkpoint, removing three soldiers there. After the train was stopped, they kept the women and the children inside as they brought the men out as hostages, “he said.

“As soon as the incident happened, we activated our reaction teams and began to monitor the situation while maintaining the right distance,” Ceudi said.

While Chaudi does not reveal specifics, the visual evidence from the briefing shows that the Pakistani military rely largely on drones to monitor the situation.

Intelligence sources also confirmed that intelligence teams and air units were located within an hour after the train was stopped.

General said the BLA passengers segregated based on ethnicity, a fact that was confirmed to Al Jazeera Survived too.

“They divided people into smaller groups based on ethnicity. As a large number of BLA fighters moved away into their hiding place in the mountains, a smaller group was left with the hostages, “he said. Many of the fighters who remained in place “were suicide bombers,” he added.

Chaudi said intelligence monitoring reveals that the abductors use Wuki-Toki to claim to communicate with their “leaders in Afghanistan.”

How did the operation unfold?

The military said that on the night of March 11, more than eight hours after the abduction, a group of women, children and elderly passengers were released, who went to the closest station, 6 km (four miles).

Intelligence monitoring by security agencies at the time offered the potential presence of suicide bombers among the hostages. The morning of March 12, Ceudri said, military snipers killed several BLA fighters, allowing some hostages to escape against the background of chaos.

The main terrestrial operation was then prepared to be led by Zarrar, an elite unit of the Army Special Services Group (SSG), which specializes in operations against armed groups.

“This is a highly trained unit, uniquely equipped for situations of terrorism, including hostage crises. The company's commander is a chief officer, “a source of intelligence said.

Showing a video, Chaudi noted that with the start of the operation, many hostages sitting off the train ran for safety.

“By noon on March 12, Zarrar completed its situational assessment. The BLA Communications tracking revealed that potential suicide assassins were located near the hostages. They were eliminated first, after which the troops broke into the train, “the general added.

“This demonstrates the professionalism and competence of our troops that there were no victims of hostages during the rescue operation,” he said.

All the fighters were killed. Security officials told Al Jazeera that they could not capture anyone alive because of the nature of the operation.

“In policy, the shooting of rebels remains important for our teaching, but the hostage situation offers a little space for it. If you want to save the hostages, the actions should be accurate and surgical, “said a security officer, asking for anonymity as he was not authorized to speak with the media.

How did India and Afghanistan react?

After the press conference, neither India nor Afghanistan issued an immediate response.

However, earlier on Friday, employees from both sides responded to a statement by the Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Thursday, which also accused both countries.

“India is involved in terrorism in Pakistan. In the attack on Jaffar Express, terrorists were in contact with their leaders and leaders in Afghanistan, Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali Khan said during his weekly news briefing in Islamabad yesterday.

Han added that the captured communications confirm links between the attackers and Afghanistan.

“Terrorists have safe shelters in Afghanistan, and Pakistan repeatedly calls on Afghan temporary government to prevent groups such as BLA to use their soil for terrorism,” he said.

The Indian government flatly rejected Pakistan's allegations.

“We reject the unfounded charges made by Pakistan. The whole world knows where the epicenter of global terrorism is. Pakistan should look at himself instead of blaming others for his internal problems and failures, “said Randhir Jasaval Foreign Ministry spokesman in a statement on Friday.

Afghanistan also denied any connection between the attackers and its territory.

“Pakistan should focus on his security and solve his internal problems instead of making irresponsible statements,” said Kabul's statement.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by the Taliban government, Abdul Kahar Balhi also called on Pakistan to “focus on solving his security and internal problems instead of making such irresponsible comments.”

Balki also claims that there are no BLA members in Afghanistan and deny any link between the group and Afghanistan.

Last month, a report from the United Nations organization states that the Afghan Taliban, in power from August 2021, provided support to the Pakistani Taliban (Tehreek-E-Taliban Pakistan or TTP), which made numerous attacks in Pakistan.

He also said that according to the reports, BLA has links with both the Pakistani Taliban and the ISIL branch in Horasan province (ISKP), which shows a wider convergence of armed groups with different but intersecting programs.