Following the latest attack on the Jaffar Express, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has charged that India is the main backer of terrorism in Balochistan. Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan, made the accusation at a joint news conference in Islamabad on Friday.
On March 11, terrorists from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) ambushed the Jaffar Express as it was making its way from Quetta to Peshawar through the Bolan Pass region of Dhadar. An improvised explosive device (IED) stopped the train, resulting in the capture of more than 400 passengers. After a 36-hour operation, security personnel were able to neutralize all 33 terrorists and free all hostages. Given the difficult circumstances and the existence of suicide bombers, DG ISPR praised the operation as one of the most effective hostage rescues in history.
Lt Gen Sharif emphasized that India was the primary sponsor of terrorism in Balochistan by revealing that the militants used both Afghan and Indian weapons. In order to glorify the attack, he accused Indian media of propagating rumors using false footage and AI-generated movies. He claimed, citing evidence of Indian authorities talking about attempts to destabilize Balochistan, that “Indian media led an information warfare campaign to support the terrorists.”
Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Balochistan, condemned the BLA, saying it had nothing to do with the rights of the Baloch people. “This is pure terrorism, supported by India’s RAW,” he declared, rejecting the BLA’s claims that it was a liberal organization.
China, United States, Iran, and Germany have all expressed support with Pakistan in response to the attack, which has received broad international criticism. In order to solve the nation’s problems, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged political leaders to work with the military and called for national unity.
With the BLA emerging as a major culprit, the Jaffar Express incident highlights the growing threat of terrorism in Balochistan. With more than 11,600 intelligence-based operations carried out by security personnel in 2025 alone, Pakistan is still dedicated to combating terrorism.
