A section of the Pakistani media today said that the Samjhauta Express blasts may have been the handiwork of “Hindu extremists”, and said they were clearly aimed at derailing the Indo-Pak peace process.

The Nation, whose front-page report on the blasts was headlined “Hindu extremists’ link suspected”, in an editorial warned India against blaming ‘jehadi’ outfits without proof.

“The Indians had better be more careful as to what they say. First of all, blaming jehadi outfits without proof would be incorrect,” the paper said. “For all we know, Hindu fundamentalists might be behind the incident. We know the Shiv Sena and the like are not too pleased with the train service. Even if, for the sake of argument, we consider that militant Islamists were behind the act, it would not, in any way, shift the onus. These people died under Indian watch... It was their job to make their railway network more safe and secure, specially for services like the high-profile Samjhauta Express, which are more likely to be targeted by such groups.”

The News blamed the attack on elements opposed to the ongoing peace process.

“It is worth noting that the deadly explosion took place a day before Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri’s three-day trip to India... As far as motive is concerned, the attackers could be from an array of opponents to the peace process; from the militants in Indian-administered J-K, Shiv Sena, VHP, Bajrang Dal-combine which has time and again expressed opposition to the peace talks.”