Pakistan has accused India of backing militant groups following a deadly train hijacking in Balochistan that left 26 people dead. Survivors of the attack, which took place on Tuesday, have shared their harrowing experiences as Pakistan's military pointed fingers at India, though no evidence was provided to support these claims.
The attack, carried out by the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), involved the hijacking of a train in a remote area, where about 400 passengers were held hostage. The confrontation with security forces extended into Wednesday, resulting in the death of 33 hijackers, according to the army.
Balochistan, rich in oil and minerals, is Pakistan's largest yet sparsely populated province. Its residents have long accused the central government of neglect, a charge that Islamabad denies. The train attack has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from the US, China, Turkey, Iran, and the UK. The UN Security Council strongly denounced the attack, emphasizing the need to bring those responsible to justice.
During a press briefing in Islamabad, army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif accused India of being the main sponsor behind this and previous terrorist incidents in Balochistan. India has dismissed these allegations. This marks the first instance of the BLA hijacking a train, although they have targeted trains in the past.
Some attackers managed to escape, prompting ongoing search operations. Sharif noted that most of the casualties were among security forces protecting the passengers and troops traveling home. Balochistan's chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, claimed to have "solid evidence" of India's involvement but did not provide specifics.
Sharif also mentioned an Indian naval officer, Kulbhushan Jadhav, arrested in 2016 for espionage, who allegedly aided Baloch separatists and other militant groups. However, he did not connect Jadhav directly to the train hijacking.
The longstanding rivalry between nuclear-armed Pakistan and India has seen them engage in four wars since their independence from Britain in 1947. India's foreign ministry has firmly rejected Pakistan's allegations.
Pakistan's foreign ministry previously suggested the attack was coordinated from Afghanistan, a claim Kabul has denied, asserting that the BLA has no presence there.
In response to the attack, Pakistan has halted all train services to and from Balochistan. Railway official Sharif Ullah stated that repairs to the damaged tracks have yet to begin.
Survivors have shared chilling accounts of the 36-hour ordeal. Muhammad Farooq, from Quetta, described how the BLA stopped the train, checked identity cards, and targeted those affiliated with the armed forces. Many passengers managed to escape during the exchange of gunfire.
Another survivor, Mohammad Tanveer, recounted being wounded but escaping. He said the attackers were specifically targeting military and security personnel, executing them in small groups.
Nair Husnain, a student, witnessed militants going through the train, tying people's hands, and shooting them. Soldiers, minority Shias, and Punjabis were targeted, while Balochs were spared. He also recalled a woman who had to watch her three soldier sons being killed, a memory that haunts him.