UN Security Council Condemns BLA Attack on Jaffar Express

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council (UNSC) has condemned the “heinous and cowardly” attack by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants on the Jaffar Express, which left multiple casualties. In a statement released on Saturday, the 15-member Council President for March, Denmark’s Christina Markus Lassen, expressed “deepest sympathy and condolences” to the victims and called on all countries to cooperate with Pakistan in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, saw BLA militants detonate explosives on train tracks, holding over 440 passengers hostage in a remote mountain pass in the Bolan district. The military’s operation to rescue the hostages resulted in the death of 33 attackers. Tragically, 26 passengers, including 18 security personnel, three railway officials, and five civilians, were martyred during the assault, while 37 others were injured.

Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, also accused India of being the primary sponsor of terrorism in Balochistan, pointing to a media campaign supporting the terrorists, including the spreading of fake videos on social media using artificial intelligence (AI).

The UNSC statement emphasized that terrorism, in all its forms, is a severe threat to global peace and security. It reaffirmed the necessity for all states to combat terrorism in line with international law and human rights obligations.

Read more: New Zealand Defeats South Africa by 50 Runs to Qualify for ICC Champions Trophy Final

The UNSC reaffirmed that acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivations or the perpetrators, and called for worldwide cooperation in tackling this global threat.