Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, while addressing a news conference about the Jaffar Express tragedy, said that the Indian media led Social Media warfare in the Jaffar Express attack to create propaganda about the incident.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express and said that the way the Pakistan Army made the release of the hostages possible is commendable. I pay tribute to the security forces for the successful operation. Sarfaraz Bugti said that some terrorists have violated the traditions of the Baloch, these are terrorists who want to destabilize Pakistan, they are purely “terrorists who want to break Pakistan.”
Flanked by the chief minister Balochistan, Sarfaraz Bugti, DG ISPR said that India was the main sponsor of terrorism in Balochistan, while terrorists operate from the Afghanistan soil.
The proscribed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), during Tuesday’s attack on the Jaffar Express in Bolan, blew up train tracks and held over 440 passengers hostage in a day-long standoff with security forces in a remote mountain pass district.
The Pakistani forces, after clearing the train and rescuing hostages, claimed they killed 33 militants. Before the operation began, terrorists had killed 21 passengers, while four security personnel were martyred during the operation.
DG ISPR said that terrorists who carried out attacks in Pakistan were trained in Afghanistan.
Indian media use AI-generated fake visuals to create propaganda about Jaffar Express incident
DG ISPR emphasised that Indian media used AI-generated fake visuals to create propaganda about the Jaffar Express incident, which was condemnable and against journalism principles.
“The Indian media displayed fake footage of the incident to spread propaganda,” he said, showing some video clips on a screen to prove his point.
“They attempted to create a narrative by sharing AI-generated images and fake videos. They were leading an informational warfare.”
The DG ISPR said a “nexus” was working amid the situation to give legitimacy to the terrorists and their narrative.
Afghan governor’s son killed in anti-terrorist operation in February.
DG ISPR said that an Afghan governor’s son, Badurddin, was killed in an operation against terrorists in February, which reflects the Afghanistan interference in Pakistan and use of their land for raising terrorists groups.
Afghan terrorists behind Jaffar Express attack: DG ISPR
DG ISPR said that the terrorists were in touch with their handlers in Afghanistan. Some hostages escaped when they got the chance, but the terrorists were also firing on the escaping hostages.
“We have evidence of terrorists who operate from Afghanistan and close allies of the Afghan Taliban leaders,” DG ISPR said.
He said that the Pakistan Army had engaged the terrorists with a regular plan, from the terrorists’ communication we came to know that there were suicide bombers among them, a special operation was taken to release the hostages, the operation was carried out cautiously due to the suicide bombers, the forces started their operation and the commandos of the Zarar Company entered the train from the engine.
He said that in the final clearance operation, the terrorists could not harm anyone, the terrorists kept martyring the civilians to spread fear, the terrorists who were present on the side of the train were killed, the terrorist who was firing from the mountain was targeted and killed, no passenger was harmed during the entire operation, the terrorists had foreign weapons.
More than 59 thousand military operations conducted in 2024
In the joint press conference about the Jaffar Express attack, they said more than 59,000 military operations had been conducted in 2024, whereas 180 operations against terrorists were conducted daily.
He further said that advanced foreign weapons smuggled from Afghanistan are being used in terrorist operations in Pakistan. He stressed that the Jaffer Express incident is yet another proof of India’s terrorist mindset.
Terrorists not belong to Balochistan: says CM Bugti
Taking over the press conference, CM Bugti said, “We’re in an intelligence-driven war waged against the state of Pakistan by RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and other hostile agencies through Afghanistan, especially because Afghan soil is being used against us.”
Denouncing the attack on unarmed civilians, CM Bugti called the “so-called fight” against the state a farce, saying it was driven by purely evil forces and that the perpetrators should only be referred to as “terrorists.”
Echoing Chaudhry’s point, Bugti said the past policy of “appeasement” followed by some previous governments toward terrorist groups had allowed key figures to be released, enabling them to reestablish insurgent camps against the state.
Bugti said the security forces had the capacity and capability to “handle this mess very soon, ” saying that such a surge was not new.
Sarfaraz Bugti said that some terrorists have violated Baloch traditions. These are the people who want to destabilize and break Pakistan. He said that these are not angry Baloch but terrorists, who are trying to spread unrest in the country under their specific agenda; these terrorists have no connection with Balochistan.
