Introduction

Balochistan is the most contentious province of Pakistan. It is the largest province by area, covering more land than over 100 countries. On March 11, 2025, the Jaffar Express, a train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was hijacked by militants of the banned terrorist organization, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The hijacking of the Jaffar Express occurred at a time when the atmosphere in Balochistan was already tense. In recent weeks, multiple terrorist attacks had taken place in the province, all of which were claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

What Happened with Jaffar Express

On that day, the Jaffar Express set off from Quetta for Peshawar as usual, carrying approximately 400 passengers. If we examine the railway network between Quetta and Peshawar, we can see that there is no direct railway line connecting the two cities. As a result, the train has to travel a long distance, passing through various cities in Sindh and Punjab before entering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Similarly, the Jaffar Express was moving toward its destination when, upon reaching Tunnel No. 8 near Mach in Bolan district, Balochistan, it was hijacked by militants of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The attackers planted explosives on the railway track, causing the train to stop and derailing four carriages. After the explosion, a large group of armed militants stormed the train and took the passengers hostage. They killed at least 26 hostages, including 18 security personnel.

Rescue Operation

The Pakistan military and other paramilitary forces launched a rescue operation for the Jaffar Express, which lasted for two days. They covered the entire area and used drones for this intense operation. The operation was challenging due to the remote location and slow supply of security personnel. As a result, security forces killed 33 terrorists and safely rescued the hostages. However, some security personnel were also martyred during the operation.

Jaffar Express Back on Track After Hijacking

Federal Railway Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi announced on March 18th that the Jaffar Express would resume service. He stated, ‘The service had been suspended due to damage to the railway track from a recent attack but has now been fully restored.‘ He also mentioned that security at railway stations would be increased, with multiple cameras installed at stations and train services being monitored by drones. Additionally, he added that PKR 5.2 million would be provided to the victims of the Jaffar Express hijacking. The train then officially came on tracks on 27th march, after 16 days of incident.

Why BLA did this?

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has carried out major terrorist attacks in Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan. This group seeks the independence of Balochistan from Pakistan through violent means. A few weeks ago, the group killed dozens of Punjabis who were traveling from Punjab to Balochistan.

Similarly, this group attacked Chinese workers at Karachi airport. Similar attacks were reported at Gwadar’s Pearl Continental Hotel and the Karachi Stock Exchange. The group has also repeatedly targeted Punjabi workers. Additionally, it has carried out terrorist attacks on military personnel by targeting various military corps and army convoys.

This banned organization demands the independence of Balochistan and carries out terrorist attacks to achieve this goal. Pakistan claims that India is financially supporting these attacks and providing weapons to the group. Pakistan further asserts that the presence of Indian intelligence agency RAW’s agent, Kulbhushan Yadav, is proof of Indian involvement in Balochistan. Additionally, Pakistan alleges that the group is also backed by Afghanistan. However, both India and Afghanistan have denied these claims.

Military Response after the Incident

In response to this incident, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, stated that the state needs to transition from a ‘soft state’ to a ‘hard state’ and that ‘the rules of the game will be changed.’ This indicates that the Pakistani military is taking a more serious stance on Balochistan and national security after this incident.

Opinion

As we all know that the Pakistan Army has previously conducted multiple operations in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the name of peace, but none have succeeded in fully restoring stability. Therefore, the state and the military should reconsider their approach and prioritize negotiations over military operations to resolve the issue. Military operations will bring more violence as it has been seen in recent years.

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Author

Rumman Mustafa