Pakistan urges UN action over foreign-backed train attack in Balochistan
Jawad Ajmal, Counsellor at Pakistan's UN Mission, said the March attack on the Jaffer Express was supported by outside elements. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN
Listen to article
Pakistan has told the United Nations it possesses 'credible evidence' that a deadly hostage-taking incident aboard a passenger train in Balochistan last month was backed by external forces, urging the international community to step up efforts in holding the perpetrators accountable.
Speaking at the launch of the Victims of Terrorism Association Network at the UN, Jawad Ajmal, Counsellor at Pakistan's UN Mission, said the March attack on the Jaffer Express was orchestrated by militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), resulting in the deaths of over 30 hostages and militants during a prolonged 36-hour standoff with security forces.
'Pakistan has credible evidence that this attack had external sponsorship from our adversaries in the region,' Ajmal said, without naming a specific country. He described the incident as a "heinous terrorist attack" and called for stronger global mechanisms to prevent such violence.
Ajmal called for a depoliticised, unified international response to terrorism and expressed concern that despite global strategies, such attacks continue to rise. 'We must look beyond narrow political interests and geopolitical agendas,' he urged, adding, 'Only by confronting the roots of terrorism can we protect future victims.'
He also highlighted Pakistan's long-standing struggle with militancy, noting that the country has lost over 80,000 lives to terrorism over the past two decades. Paying tribute to security personnel, Ajmal commended the sacrifices of law enforcement and military forces in defending the country.
The Pakistani diplomat's remarks came against the backdrop of mounting regional tensions, particularly after the killing of 26 tourists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir last week — an attack New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan has categorically denied involvement and condemned the violence.
Pakistan, he added, had joined the UN Security Council in condemning the recent Pahalgam attack and expressed condolences to the victims' families, reiterating its commitment to regional peace.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan-India conflict: Trump calls Pakistan's leadership ‘very strong'
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures, as he departs for Pennsylvania, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 30, 2025. Photo:REUTER Listen to article US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan's leadership during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House on Thursday, marking their first bilateral discussion since Merz's election on May 6. The meeting covered a range of topics, among which was Trump's acknowledgment of Pakistan's leadership during the recent spike in tensions between India and Pakistan. These tensions reached a boiling point after a deadly attack in the Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on April 22, which killed 26 people. India swiftly blamed Pakistan, but without presenting evidence. Islamabad denied the Indian claims and called for an independent probe. India the took hostile actions including the suspension of the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), halting trade, and closing border crossings, as it retaliated against the alleged attack. In response, Pakistan undertook reciprocal measures, including halting trade and closing its airspace to Indian aircraft. The situation quickly escalated as missile strikes and air raids rocked both nations, resulting in dozens of casualties. Trump took credit for preventing the situation from spiraling further, stating, 'Pakistan has very strong leadership. Some people won't like when I say that, but it is what it is.' His diplomatic efforts, which involved intense talks with both sides, were credited with diffusing the immediate crisis. 'I spoke to very talented people on both sides. I said, 'We're not going to deal with you on trade if you're going to go shooting each other and whipping out nuclear weapons,'' Trump recalled, referencing the dangerous escalation that had brought the nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of a full-scale conflict. The situation worsened on May 7, India attacked several Pakistani cities and targeted areas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), killing civilians and destroying infrastructure. In retaliation, Pakistan's military shot down Indian warplanes, including Rafale jets, which are considered key assets of the Indian Air Force. Pakistan also neutralised waves of Israeli-made drones launched by India. On May 10, India escalated further by targeting Pakistani airbases, prompting Pakistan to launch Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, striking Indian military installations. This continued escalation brought the region to a perilous juncture before Trump intervened. Following intense diplomatic efforts, Trump announced a ceasefire on May 10, which was later confirmed by both countries' foreign ministers. Despite the ceasefire, however, a war of narratives continued to unfold. Pakistan credited Trump, along with China and Gulf states, for playing a vital role in diffusing the situation, while Indian officials downplayed foreign involvement, asserting that the truce was the result of direct bilateral talks. Trump, however, has repeatedly reiterated his stance, taking pride in his role. "I got that war stopped. Now I hope we don't go back and find out that they started it, but I don't think they will," he said. He also praised the leadership on both sides, specifically highlighting the strength of Pakistan's leadership, despite some resistance to his comments. 'They stopped that war. I was very proud of that,' he added. The president also extended his praise to Indian leadership, noting, 'The leader of India, who's a great guy, was here a few weeks ago. We had some great talks. We're doing a trade deal.'
Express Tribune
9 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Anger as US blocks Gaza ceasefire resolution
Staffs of Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres) (MSF) march behind a banner carrying placards as they stage a demonstration against the militarisation of supplies of humanitarian aid in the Gaza strip, next to the United Nations Offices in Geneva. Photo: AFP UN Security Council members criticised the United States Wednesday after it vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access in Gaza, which Washington said undermined ongoing diplomacy. It was the 15-member body's first vote on the situation since November, when the United States -- a key Israeli ally -- also blocked a text calling for an end to fighting. "Today, the United States sent a strong message by vetoing a counterproductive UN Security Council resolution on Gaza targeting Israel," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement after Wednesday's 14 to 1 vote. He said Washington would not support any text that "draws a false equivalence between Israel and Hamas, or disregards Israel's right to defend itself. "The United States will continue to stand with Israel at the UN." The draft resolution had demanded "an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in Gaza respected by all parties." It also called for the "immediate, dignified and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas and other groups," and demanded the lifting of all restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Hamas, whose unprecedented attack inside Israel on October 7, 2023 sparked the war, condemned the "disgraceful" US veto, reiterating accusations of "genocide" in Gaza, something Israel vehemently rejects. The veto "marks a new stain on the ethical record of the United States of America," the group said in a statement, accusing Washington of "legitimizing genocide, supporting aggression, and rationalizing starvation, destruction, and mass killings." Pakistan's ambassador to the UN Asim Ahmad meanwhile said the failed resolution would "remain not only a moral stain on the conscience of this council, but a fateful moment of political application that will reverberate for generations". China's ambassador to the UN Fu Cong said: "today's vote result once again exposes that the root cause of the council's inability to quell the conflict in Gaza is the repeated obstruction by the US." The veto marks Washington's first such action since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Israel has faced mounting international pressure to end its war in Gaza. That scrutiny has increased over flailing aid distribution in Gaza, which Israel blocked for more than two months before allowing a small number of UN vehicles to enter in mid-May. The United Nations, which warned last month the entire population in the besieged Palestinian territory was at risk of famine, said trickle was far from enough to meet the humanitarian needs.
Business Recorder
11 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Conflict with India: Gilani praises Britain's behind-the-scenes diplomacy
ISLAMABAD: Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani took centre stage on Thursday in a high-stakes diplomatic sit-down with British High Commissioner Jane Marriott – pitching Pakistan as a peace-driven, climate-hit, and investment-hungry nation eager to deepen relations with the UK. Calling himself 'a man of peace,' Gilani praised Britain's behind-the-scenes diplomacy for easing tensions between nuclear neighbours Pakistan and India during the recent four-day clash between the two archrivals. With Marriott nodding along, Gilani pressed the UK to double down on its counter-terror cooperation and back efforts to stamp out extremism and cross-border threats – code for trouble brewing from across the Indian border. Gilani didnot mince words, once again calling for a UN-backed peaceful resolution to the decades-old flashpoint of Kashmir dispute, while urging London to use its diplomatic muscle. Gilani also flashed Pakistan's humanitarian credentials, reminding the world Pakistan has hosted more than three million Afghan refugees over the years – and is still footing the bill. He pleaded for global help in fixing what he called a simmering refugee crisis. On the green front, Gilani sounded the climate alarm. With Pakistan battered by floods, droughts, and rising temperatures, he pitched partnerships with Britain on everything from clean energy to disaster response. On trade, Gilani said that the £4.1 billion in annual volume barely scratches the surface of what Pakistan and the UK could achieve, urging both sides to unlock the 'untapped goldmine' of economic potential. He called for fresh trade deals, a surge in UK investment, and faster, friendlier student and work visas, saying it is time to supercharge academic links and crank up economic engines on both sides. Cybersecurity, defence, intelligence, training – Gilani put them all on the table during his meeting with Marriott, sketching out what he dubbed a 'dynamic and forward-looking' UK-Pakistan partnership. Marriott, for her part, gave a diplomatic thumbs-up, praising the 'constructive dialogue' and pledging Britain's full-throttle support for a safer, greener, and more prosperous Pakistan. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
