Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan says the terrorists attack on Jaffar Express near Sibi in Balochistan was orchestrated and directed by terrorists’ ring leaders operating from abroad.
At his weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that the security forces successfully eliminated all 33 terrorists including suicide bombers while rescuing the hostages.
“The terrorists were in direct communication with Afghanistan-based planners throughout the incident, he said.
The FO spokesperson said that Pakistan has repeatedly asked the interim Afghan government to deny the use of its soil for terrorist groups like Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) to attack Pakistan.
He urged Afghanistan to hold perpetrators, organizers and financiers of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and cooperate with the government of Pakistan in brining all those, who were concerned with this attack including the real sponsors of terrorism, to justice.
Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism which is planned, orchestrated and sponsored by those detractors who are operating outside the borders.
“Unfortunately, we have many detractors of peace in our region who do not want to see Pakistan reap the dividends of its unprecedented and sincere efforts in counter terrorism and building a peaceful region,” the FO spokesperson said.
Replying to a question regarding the latest statement of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Khan termed the remarks as unwarranted and delusional.
“These remarks cannot divert the international attention from the well-documented human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the FO spokesperson said, adding that the repeated invocations on AJK by the Indian leaders, on one pretext or the other, reflect an expansionist mindset.
Shafqat Ali Khan said that it also poses a serious threat to regional stability.
The FO spokesperson made it clear that any level of development cannot condone the systematic suppression of the basic human rights in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He advised that instead of showing concerns about the people of AJK, the Indian leaders should grant the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, their fundamental rights and freedom, especially the right to self-determination.
Turning to Palestine, Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan unequivocally condemns Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid and halting of electricity supply to Gaza, calling it the manifestation of Israel's systematic campaign to weaponize aid and dehumanize the Palestinian people.
The FO spokesperson also condemned the continued Israeli assault against the people of West Bank and Gaza, which has resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives, including women and children.
