India slams Pakistan for hinting at involvement in train hijacking
What's the story
India has categorically rejected Pakistan's allegations of "sponsoring terrorism" after the latter on Thursday hinted at New Delhi's involvement in the Balochistan train attack that killed 21 passengers.
MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal termed the claims "baseless" and called on Pakistan to deal with its problems instead of blaming others for its failures.
"We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan. The whole world knows where the epicenter of global terrorism lies," Jaiswal said.
Allegations
Pakistan's foreign office spokesperson implicates India
India also suggested that Pakistan look inward instead of "pointing fingers and shifting the blame for its own internal problems and failures on to others."
At a weekly press briefing, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan alleged that the rebels behind the Jaffar Express attack were in contact with their handlers and ring leaders from Afghanistan, without directly implicating India.
Response
BLA refutes Pakistan's claims of successful operation
When questioned if Pakistan's policy of blaming India for BLA activity had changed, the spokesperson said Pakistan's claims against India remain strong even today.
"India is involved in sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan....in this particular incident, we have evidence of calls being traced to Afghanistan," he responded.
Earlier, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also told Geo News that handlers of these terrorists are in a neighboring country, and that "our enemy India will definitely support this."
Challenge
BLA challenges Pakistan to allow independent observers
After an almost two-day standoff, Pakistan claimed that all hostages on the train had been rescued and all 31 militants killed.
The BLA on Thursday refuted claims of Pakistan regarding a successful operation, claiming that the fight is still on in several fronts.
Jeeyand Baloch, BLA spokesperson, accused Pakistan of "abandoning its own soldiers" and leaving them "to die as hostages."
The BLA has also urged Pakistani authorities to allow independent journalists and impartial observers into the conflict zone.
Passengers
Pakistan Army has not released any photographs or video
The Pakistan Army has not released any photographs or video of the claimed "successful operation," which the group claims is proof of defeat.
Passengers released from the hijacked train claimed that BLA fighters had voluntarily freed women, children and elderly people, soon after taking over the train.
The militants blew up the railway track and launched rockets at the Jaffar Express, which was carrying 440 people from Quetta, Balochistan, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province before hijacking it.