Pakistan’s military has accused neighboring India of sponsoring terror, just days after a train attack killed 26 people in the restive southwest region of Balochistan province. The attack, carried out by armed separatists from the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army, has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community.
The Pakistani army claimed that “in this terrorist incident and others before”, India was the main sponsor, but offered no evidence to back up its claims. This is the first time the BLA has hijacked a train, although it had attacked trains before.
Pakistan’s government has accused India of involvement in past attacks, citing the example of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian naval officer who was arrested and convicted of espionage in 2016. However, India rejected Pakistan’s claims, saying they were “baseless allegations”.
The train attack has also drawn attention to the ongoing struggles Pakistan faces in countering militant groups. The country has suspended all train services to and from Balochistan until further notice.
Survivors of the attack have recounted their harrowing ordeal during the 36-hour hijacking, describing scenes of violence and brutality at the hands of the attackers. The international community has urged Pakistan and India to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/pakistan-train-hijacking-survivors-military-balochistan-befd1e921825bac47e9dddb51e8de3d0