Pakistan protests train hijack with Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has lodged a strong protest with Afghanistan over the Jaffar Express hijacking and killing of innocent passengers.

The Taliban regime has been asked to explain on the contacts of terrorists, who perpetrated the heinous offence, with their handlers in Afghanistan.

Officially, no word has been given by the Foreign Office but The News/Jang came to know through highly placed sources of the Foreign Office that Sardar Ahmad Shekib, the Taliban’s Chargé D’affaires (CdA) in Islamabad, was summoned by the Foreign Office the other day to lodge a strong protest and use of Afghan soil for the unpardonable offence.

Pakistan doesn’t recognize the government in Kabul but has allowed the presence of Taliban’s diplomatic representative in Pakistan since they control Kabul.

Sardar Shekib was reminded that the Taliban had given an international assurance that they wouldn’t allow the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan, and the assurance was given in Doha Agreement. The Afghan CdA was told that the outfit that had been declared as a terrorist organization by the world body had used the Afghan soil for their heinous acts.

The terrorists were in constant contact with their mastermind in Afghanistan and evidence in this regard is available with Pakistan.

On earlier occasions, the Afghan CdA was summoned with regard to the incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the terror outfit TTP was committing such monstrous offences.

Meanwhile, Pakistan has expressed satisfaction over the international reaction and wide condemnation of train hijacking.

A strong-worded resolution of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the matter is a source of diplomatic satisfaction for Pakistan, as it has mentioned the so-called Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Majeed Brigade by name for acts of terrorism. Interestingly, Russian President Vladimir Putin is among the world leaders who condemned the incident.

Sources said the government was mulling over thanking the world leaders and countries that expressed solidarity with Pakistan at this critical juncture. The list of the same could be issued in a couple of days, the sources added.