India has firmly rejected Pakistan’s allegations of “sponsoring terrorism,” urging Islamabad to focus on its internal challenges rather than shifting blame.

The response came after Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, on Thursday, hinted at foreign involvement in the recent Jaffar Express attack but stopped short of directly naming India.

Khan stated that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) rebels, who hijacked the train, were in contact with handlers based in Afghanistan. When questioned about Pakistan’s long-standing accusations against India regarding BLA activities, Khan reiterated the claim.

“There is no shift in our policy. And again, the facts have not changed. India is involved in sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan. What I was referring to was, in this particular incident, we have evidence of calls being traced to Afghanistan. This is what I said,” he asserted, reported The Indian Express.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the accusations as “baseless,” emphasizing Pakistan’s role as a hub for global terrorism.

“We strongly reject the baseless allegations made by Pakistan. The whole world knows where the epicenter of global terrorism lies. Pakistan should look inwards instead of pointing fingers and shifting the blame for its own internal problems and failures on to others,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.

BLA’s Jaffar Express Hijacking and Pakistan’s Response

The controversy follows the March 11 hijacking of the Jaffar Express near Quetta, Balochistan, by BLA rebels. The group, which has been fighting for Baloch separatism, derailed the train using explosives and held over 200 passengers hostage. They demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners, threatening to execute hostages if their demands were not met within 48 hours.

Pakistan’s military launched a 30-hour-long rescue operation, which ended on Wednesday. The operation resulted in the deaths of 33 BLA militants, including suicide bombers, according to Pakistan’s army. However, the attack claimed the lives of 21 civilians and four security personnel.

While Pakistan has previously accused India of supporting Baloch insurgent groups, its latest statements suggest a focus on Afghanistan-based operatives.

India has consistently denied any involvement in Pakistan’s internal conflicts, maintaining that terrorism in the region is a direct consequence of Islamabad’s own policies.

As tensions continue to simmer, experts suggest that Pakistan’s renewed allegations against India could be aimed at diverting attention from its internal security and governance failures.