March 14, 2025: India has strongly rejected Pakistan's allegations that New Delhi is responsible for the recent violence in Pakistan, including the hijacking of the Jaffar Express by Baloch rebels. In a sharp response, India has reminded Pakistan of its long-standing role as a terror hub, urging it to address its internal problems instead of blaming external forces.

"We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan. The whole world knows where the epicentre of global terrorism lies. Pakistan should look inwards instead of pointing fingers and shifting the blame for its own internal problems and failures on to others," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated.

The statement came after a senior Pakistani official accused India of "sponsoring terrorism" and attempting to destabilise the region. The accusations followed the hijacking of the Jaffar Express, a Quetta-to-Peshawar train, by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The attack, which lasted for 30 hours, resulted in the deaths of 21 hostages and four security personnel.

Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, claimed that the attackers were in contact with handlers based in Afghanistan. However, he maintained that Pakistan’s accusations against India’s involvement in BLA activities remain unchanged.

The BLA, an armed separatist group, has been fighting for Balochistan's independence for decades, citing forced integration into Pakistan during the 1947 Partition. Recent months have seen a surge in violence, with Baloch rebels increasingly targeting security forces and Chinese-backed projects in the mineral-rich province. The region has also witnessed numerous enforced disappearances, allegedly carried out by the Pakistani state, further fueling unrest.

India has consistently dismissed Pakistan’s allegations, reiterating that Islamabad should focus on tackling terrorism within its own borders instead of making baseless claims against its neighbours.