section_path: Domestic Reactions/Pakistan
section_name: Pakistan
paragraph_text: Pakistan
  
  Pakistan's leaders voiced strong opposition towards the hijack of the Jaffar Express, with President Asif Ali Zardari praising his country's security forces for rescuing the passengers from the BLA. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope that the security forces could eliminate the "coward terrorists", whom he considered enemies of Balochistan's progress. In a post on X, Sharif said that he spoke to Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti regarding the hijacking, and condemned the incident as "cowardly acts" that did not subvert his nation's goals for "resolve for peace" in a speech the day after the attack. He also expressed condolences for the "families of the martyrs", wished survivors swift recoveries, and stated that the insurgents "have been sent to hell". Multiple other prominent Pakistani politicians, namely Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Sindh Home Minister Zia Ul Hassan Lanjar, Senate Chairman Yusuf Raza Gilani, and the National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, also condemned the attack directly. Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi argued that the BLA's train attack was coordinated and part of a foreign conspiracy. He confirmed the rescue of all passengers from the attack but declined to give further details about the process other than that a rescue train had arrived to assist them. He later praised Pakistan's armed forces for their rapid rescue operation, in particular its commandos for preventing suicide bombers from detonating their explosives. Pakistan Army lieutenant general Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry condemned harm towards civilians and stated that whoever was responsible for the incident will be hunted down and brought to justice. He added that the attack "changes the rules of the game".
  
  Punjab governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan also condemned the attack, considering the insurgents to be inhuman for targeting civilians and wishing for the speedy recovery of injured victims. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party leader Asad Qaiser voiced concern over the attack but also claimed that Balochistan's flawed government policies allowed for it to occur. Pakistan People's Party leader and digital media head Umar Rehman Malik strongly condemned the attack emphasizing that such cowardly acts will never break Pakistan's spirit or weaken the nation's unwavering resolve against terrorism. Malik gave his condolences to the victims and their families and commended the efforts and swift response of the security forces. In a statement, Malik said "Our prayers are with the victims and their families, and we hope for the safe rescue of all hostages and the swift recovery of the injured. The perpetrators of this heinous attack must be brought to justice. Pakistan will never bow to terror, Inshallah." The party's chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called for revisiting the National Action Plan to better counter terrorism, criticizing the prime minister for not yet having done so. On X, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan said it was "gravely concerned" by the attack and advocated for "urgent rights-based, pro-people consensus on the issues faced by citizens in Balochistan and to find a peaceful, political solution". Following the conflict, the BLA rejected the Pakistani military's claim to the hijack conflict having ended, arguing that battles were still continuing and that Pakistani forces were suffering heavy casualties; they claimed that they executed 214 hostages but did not provide evidence for such.
  
  On 13 March 2025, governmental parties threw accusations at each other during a National Assembly conference. Khawaja Asif, the Minister of Defence and a member of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) party, disapproved of PTI for discrediting the military's operation against the BLA. Asad Qaiser of PTI responded by blaming the conflict on the failures of intelligence agencies and Sharif's regime. The involved parties unanimously passed a resolution condemning the hijacking incident of the Jaffar Express and commending the Pakistani military and law enforcement agencies for their actions. Multiple Pakistani universities held rallies to condemn the train attack directly, namely Karachi University, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University, University of Sindh, Sindh Madressatul Islam University, and Sukkur IBA University.
  
  In the immediate aftermath of the hijacking, Pakistani users on social media spread conspiracy theories alleging that India was involved, with several of them blaming the Research and Analysis Wing. Indian users made social media posts responding to the incident by taunting Pakistan. On 17 March, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency arrested social media user and alleged pro-PTI activist Haider Saeed for hate speech against the government, an FIA spokesperson stating that he "shared negative propaganda and derogatory content against institutions during the Jaffar Express tragedy". The Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari accused PTI of running an "anti-state campaign" that created "political divides".