Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD, : Pakistan on Thursday said that the terrorist attack targeting Jaffar Express near Sibi city of Balochistan on Wednesday was orchestrated and directed by terrorist ring leaders operating from abroad.
“Our security forces successfully eliminated all 33 terrorists, including suicide bombers, while rescuing the hostages. Terrorists were in direct communications with Afghanistan-based planners throughout the incident,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said at his weekly press briefing.
He said Pakistan had repeatedly asked the interim Afghan government to deny the use of its soil for terrorist groups like BLA for their attacks against Pakistan.
“We urge Afghanistan to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers, of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and cooperate with the government of Pakistan to bring all those who are concerned with this attack, including the real sponsors of terrorism to justice,” the spokesperson added.
He said that the terrorist elements like TTP and other terrorist organizations operating in Pakistan enjoyed sanctuaries in Afghanistan.
“So, this remains a stumbling block, a serious problem on the way of promoting deeper friendly relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. We have been pressing Afghan authorities to tackle and handle this problem, and we will continue to press them to take necessary actions in this regard.”
He told the media that the Government of Pakistan was pursuing a complex and multi-faceted anti-terrorism strategy, involving military action, intelligence-based operations and diplomatic approach.
To another query, he reiterated that India was involved in sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan.
Apprising the media of the denial of entry to Pakistan Ambassador K.K. Ahsan Wagan by US authorities in Los Angeles airport, he said the envoy was on a private visit. For having a visit visa, he was not eligible for diplomatic immunity.
The US authorities informed that he had been held for secondary immigration screening but did not share the exact reasons or the charges.
“The government has taken a very serious note of the incident and on the instructions of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, necessary action has been initiated and investigations are underway. The incident, however, was exploited by certain elements on the social media and media to generate speculative controversy, which is regrettable,” the spokesperson remarked.
To a question, he said that the remarks of the Indian defence minister were unwarranted and delusional, and reiterated, “Any level of development cannot condone the systematic infringement of the basic human rights in IIOJK. Instead of showing concern about the people of Azad, Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian leaders should grant the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir their fundamental rights and freedoms, especially their right to self-determination.”
