PM Shehbaz Sharif / PM Sharif in action after train hijack crisis ends, reaches Balochistan with ministers

PM Shehbaz Sharif: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday visited Balochistan province, where he reviewed the law and order situation and expressed solidarity with the victims of the Jaffar Express hijack incident. 21 civilians and 4 soldiers were killed in this attack. Sharif's visit came after Pakistan's security forces killed all 33 insurgents of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) involved in the hijack incident.

Government's commitment to Balochistan

Prime Minister Sharif was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Ataullah Tarar, Federal Planning and Development Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Science and Technology Minister Nawabzada Mir Khalid Magsi and other senior officials. The government made it clear that the security and stability of Balochistan is a priority.

Allegations of politicisation

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif accused former Prime Minister Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of politicising the incident and misrepresenting it on social media. Asif said that all political parties should unite and show national unity in the struggle against terrorism.

Action and success of security forces

Giving information about the military operation conducted regarding the incident, the minister said that the security forces successfully eliminated the terrorists and saved the lives of a large number of passengers. He said, "Our fight against terrorism is a significant achievement, which the whole country can be proud of. If the country stands with our armed forces like this, we will definitely succeed in our fight against terrorism."

Jaffar Express attack: A dangerous incident

The Jaffar Express, which was going from Quetta to Peshawar with about 500 passengers, was attacked by BLA insurgents near a tunnel in the hilly areas of Gudalar and Piru Kunri. The attackers opened fire on the train and took the passengers hostage, forcing the security forces to launch a difficult operation that lasted two days.

Indications of foreign support

Pakistani army spokesman, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, said the terrorists were "in touch with their facilitators and masterminds in Afghanistan through satellite phones." This indicated that external elements were also active behind the attack.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Sharif's visit to Balochistan was not only an attempt to show sympathy to the victims of terrorism but also an indication that the government is fully committed to maintaining law and order in the region. The prompt action of the security forces has shown the country's strong will against terrorism. It remains to be seen what strategies the Pakistan government adopts in the future to prevent such incidents.