Pakistan formally filed a strong protest with Afghanistan on Monday on the use of its land in the recent train hijacking in Sibi, Balochistan.

A senior Afghan diplomat was called to the Foreign Office to register the protest, according to sources familiar with the development. However, there was no official statement from the FO at the time of filing this report.

On March 11, terrorists attacked and hijacked Jaffar Express at Bolan Pass and held over 400 passengers hostage for 30 hours. The train was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar.

Pakistani security forces, supported by Air Force and Elite Army Commandos, successfully saved over 350 passengers. However, authorities confirmed that terrorists killed 26 passengers before the operation began. All 33 attackers were neutralized during surgery.

After the attack, Pakistan stated that it had found proof that attackers were in constant contact with their handler in Afghanistan. FO subsequently called on the Taliban government to help bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to sources, the same message was transferred to the Afghan diplomat during Monday’s meeting.

However, the Afghan Taliban rejected Pakistan’s accusations and claimed that the Baloch terrorist groups did not operate from Afghan territory and had no links to Kabul.

However, a recent UN Security Council (UNSC) pointed out monitoring report to a close Nexus between the Afghanistan-based forbidden TTP and the Bla-Sidt-mentioned had undertaken responsibility for the train attack.

Sources also revealed that FO raised concerns about the involvement of Afghan citizens in the recent attack on Bannu Cantonment.