Pakistan Train Hijack: Pakistan’s security personnel effectively concluded a military operation against Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) separatists who had hijacked a train, freeing 346 passengers. The assault took place on Tuesday when the Jaffar Express from Quetta to Peshawar was attacked in Bolan Pass in Sibi. BLA took responsibility for the attack, saying it hijacked the train to ask for the release of Baloch political prisoners.
Following over a day of fighting, the military killed all 33 assailants. The attack and counterattack cost 21 passengers their lives and four paramilitary troops. The train hijackers had threatened dire consequences if the government reacted militarily.
Rescue operations started right away, with security personnel evacuating passengers in stages safely. Some of them walked to Panir station, and others were rescued later and brought to Mach station for assistance. The BLA had held hostages, including security forces, and given Pakistan a 48-hour deadline but there has been no official reaction from the government to their demands.
Balochistan, the most populous but poorest province in the country, has been immersed in separatist insurgency for years over access to resources and political instability. Incidents have intensified, with the BLA making its tactics and firepower stronger. Experts attribute the crisis to the state’s inability to fight insurgents effectively.
Analysts note that army crackdowns usually kill innocent civilians, further isolating the Baloch community. The increasing power of the BLA points to security failures, and the absence of a political solution by the government can further result in more violence.
Though Pakistan has declared large-scale military operations in Balochistan, experts point out that if local grievances are not tackled, the insurgency will keep expanding.
Edited by Saumya Sharan
