Have 'credible evidence' of India's role in train hijacking

A Pakistani diplomat at the United Nations told the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) that Islamabad had the "credible evidence" proving India's hand in the train hijacking in Balochistan last month, while delivering a scathing response to Indian allegations.

Speaking at the launch of the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN) by the UNOCT in New York on Monday, Pakistani Counsellor Jawad Ajmal rejected New Delhi's accusation that Pakistan was indulging in "baseless propaganda" against India.

Ajmal referred to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attack on Jaffar Express near Sibi in March, which resulted in the loss of at least 30 innocent lives. "Pakistan has credible evidence that this attack had external sponsorship from our adversaries in the region," he said, in an obvious reference to India.

Ajmal used his right to reply to Indian Deputy Permanent Representative Yojna Patel's statement, which accused him of misusing the forum to "indulge in propaganda and make baseless allegations against India", and went on to allege that Pakistan was involved in terrorism.

Rejecting the Indian delegate's accusations, Ajmal highlighted Pakistan's own struggles with terrorism, citing the loss of over 80,000 lives over two decades. He praised the resilience of the Pakistani nation and paid tribute to the families of martyrs from law-enforcement agencies and armed forces.

In his address earlier, Ajmal called for addressing the root causes of terrorism, distinguishing terrorism from legitimate struggles for self-determination and also addressing state-sponsored terrorism.

He also called for a consensual definition of terrorism, taking into account new trends.

"We must-address challenges, emanating from new tools of terrorism on social media and the dark web which seek to deepen divisions and sow the seeds of discord, including incitement to violence," he said, underscoring the need to counter disinformation campaigns aimed at spreading hate speech.

He also pointed out to the plight of the people of IIOJK, who had been suffering as victims of state terrorism perpetrated by the Indian state machinery. Indian perpetrators must be held "accountable for state terrorism and crimes against humanity", he said.

He reiterated the call for the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to compel India to halt state terrorism and oppression in Jammu and Kashmir, and demanded the implementation of the Security Council's resolutions, which required a free and fair plebiscite in the region.