Key Points
- Coordinated attacks by the BLA killed 22 security personnel and 36 civilians.
- FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi reiterates Pakistan’s commitment to diplomacy while safeguarding national interests.
- Pakistan recalls the Samjhauta Express bombing, criticizes India for failing to prosecute accused individuals.
- Islamabad urges Afghanistan to prevent its soil from being used for cross-border terrorism.
- Concerns raised over expanding India-Israel relations and their regional impact.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday stated that India’s official response to a recent deadly terrorist attack in Balochistan inadvertently validates Islamabad’s long-held claims of Indian involvement in fomenting instability within Pakistan.
The development follows a series of coordinated attacks last month by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) across multiple districts in Balochistan. The assaults resulted in the tragic deaths of 22 security personnel and 36 civilians.
In the aftermath, Pakistan’s military media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), directly accused “India-sponsored” elements, referring to them as Fitna al-Hindustan (FAH), of orchestrating the violence.
According to the ISPR, security forces killed 92 terrorists during clearance operations.
During a weekly media briefing on Thursday, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi asserted that India’s reaction to the incident has “effectively corroborated” Pakistan’s position regarding external interference.
He reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to regional peace through dialogue and diplomacy while firmly protecting its national interests.
Samjhauta terrorist attack
The spokesperson also used the platform to highlight the 19th anniversary of the Samjhauta Express terrorist attack that claimed over 70 lives.
He pointed to the public confession of Swami Aseemanand and the admission by Indian Colonel Shrikant Purohit, noting that all four accused in the case remain at large.
He criticised India for its failure to bring the perpetrators to justice and dismissed a recent statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs as “baseless.”
Concerns over Afghanistan’s Soil
During the briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson also addressed the situation in Afghanistan, emphasising Pakistan’s expectation that Afghan territory would not be used to launch cross-border attacks.
He stressed the necessity of eliminating what he described as the “freedom enjoyed by terrorists” operating from Afghan soil.
The spokesperson clarified that while Pakistan seeks to prevent its territory from being threatened, it has no desire to damage its historical ties with the Afghan people.
He reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to maintaining constructive relations with the interim Afghan government while urging them to take concrete action against terrorist groups.
Eye on India-Israel relations
The Foreign Office spokesperson also voiced concerns regarding the deepening ties between India and Israel.
While the spokesperson did not provide specific details, he stated that Pakistan remains attentive to these developments, viewing them as significant to regional stability and security.
Indian state terrorism
He strongly condemned the extrajudicial killings of three Kashmiri youth in the Kishtwar district of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), describing the incident as a continuation of what it terms “Indian state terrorism” in the disputed territory.
He added, the three young men were taken into custody by Indian occupation forces and subsequently killed and their bodies were mutilated.
The spokesperson said Pakistan views this as another grim manifestation of India’s actions in the region, adding that “fake encounters,” custodial killings, and the desecration of bodies have become routine practices aimed at suppressing the Kashmiri people’s legitimate struggle for self-determination.
He reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position on the dispute and its condemnation of human rights violations in the territory. He called for international attention on the ongoing abuses against the Kashmiri population.
Ishaq Dar in Saudi Arabia for OIC meeting
He SAID Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia.
He is scheduled to attend an extraordinary meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Executive Committee in Jeddah, running from February 26 to 28.
The high-level meeting will address recent Israeli actions, including the expansion of Jewish settlements and steps toward imposing sovereignty over occupied territories in the West Bank.
Discussions will also focus on the situation in Palestine and Gaza.
The Foreign Office confirmed that Ishaq Dar will articulate Pakistan’s official position on these matters during the discussions.
