ISLAMABAD:
The Foreign Office on Thursday said terrorists involved in the hijacking of a train were in “direct contact” with their handlers based in Afghanistan, urging Kabul to cooperate with Islamabad in order to bring perpetrators to justice.
A day after Pakistan security forces eliminated all terrorists and rescued passengers following a 30-hour of standoff, the Foreign Office said that there was no doubt the attack was linked to Afghanistan.
Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told the media that the Afghan soil had been used against Pakistan and the latest terrorist attack against Jaffar Express near Sibi in Balochistan was also orchestrated and directed by terrorist ring leaders operating from abroad.
“Terrorists were in direct communications with Afghanistan-based planners throughout the incident,” he said. The Foreign Office statement came after the army also officially confirmed the Afghan link to the brazen train hijacking.
The spokesperson 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,” he demanded.
When asked, the spokesperson said Pakistan would formally take up the issue with Afghan authorities after gathering all the evidence.
The Afghan Taliban government, meanwhile, rejected Pakistan’s allegations regarding the use of Afghan soil in train hijacking.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan are already tense and the latest incident would only exacerbate the situation.
The spokesperson termed the terrorists sanctuaries across the border a main obstacle in the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The issue has complicated many areas of cooperation. For example, the key border crossing at Torkham between Pakistan and Afghanistan has remained shut since February 21. Though closure was linked to a new check post the Afghan side wanted to construct, the root cause of the problem is overall worsening ties.
Adding to the already tense ties, Pakistan recently gave March 31 deadline to the Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave or face eviction.
The spokesperson defended the government’s move. “We have been pointing it out that for any foreigner living illegally in our country; the law will take its course. But specifically on Afghanistan, any Afghan with valid travel documents is welcome to visit Pakistan and stay in Pakistan as long as the validity of his visa entitles him or her.”
“We had a special provision which the Interior Ministry press release has explained regarding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). They were also given some extra ordinary relaxation. It was a step that government of Pakistan took, by allowing them to stay, but it was not an indefinite leave to stay. Now the government has decided that people with Afghan citizen cards (ACC) should leave the country by 31st march 2025. Beyond that, they will be deemed illegal residents in Pakistan, and the law will take its course.”
No indication of US travel ban
To a question, the spokesperson termed media reports regarding possible US travel ban on Pakistan mere speculations.
“We have taken note of recent media reports claiming a possible entry ban on Pakistani nationals from entering the US. As of now, this is speculative,” he said.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our Mission in Washington are in close contact with the relevant US authorities to get any details in this regard. So far, we have not been given any indication of such a ban on Pakistani nationals,” he added.
The spokesperson also provided for the first time more details about the recent deportation of a Pakistani diplomat by the US authorities.
“Ambassador KK Ahsan Wagan was on a private visit to the United States when he was detained and denied entry by the US authorities in Los Angeles airport. What is important is that, by virtue of his visa, which was a visit visa, he was not eligible for diplomatic immunity,” he told reporters.
“As soon as our consulate in Los Angeles was informed, it got in touch with the US authorities. The authorities informed that he has been held for secondary immigration screening but because of US laws, they did not share the exact reasons or the charges for which he was being put through the secondary screening.”
“Our missions in Los Angeles and Washington remained engaged with the US authorities. Finally, the ambassador was allowed to fly out on the March 8,” he further said.
The spokesperson said the government had 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,” he said.
