A major security crisis is unravelling in Pakistan as Baloch separatists hijacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar today. The attack took place in the Balon district of Balochistan, a province of Pakistan, where militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the train and claimed responsibility.
The train comprised of 9 bogeys (coaches) and was carrying more than 500 passengers. It was stopped by the attackers who blew up the front portion of the speeding train and railway track. As per the initial statement released by the BLA, the attack was carried out by the Majeed Brigade, STOS and Fateh Squad – specialised units of the BLA, which have jointly taken 182 hostages, comprising of serving Pakistani security forces, intelligence officials and police personnel after releasing women, children and Baloch passengers onboard. In a new statement, the BLA has claimed that they have killed at least 30 Pakistani military personnel and threaten to kill more if their demands are not met.
The BLA has demanded the “unconditional release of Baloch political prisoners and activists” within the next 48 hours for the lives of remaining passengers. The militant group has a long history of demanding independence from Pakistan. They have for years alleged exploitation of the province’s resources by the Pakistan government and have carried out several violent attacks in the past, targeting security forces and the China financed Belt and Road infrastructure in the region.
The Government of Pakistan has for its part undertaken a flurry of actions to contain the crisis. The Pakistan Army has launched a major anti-terror operation to rescue the hostages. Massive aerial support of the Pakistani Air Force has been deployed to assess and neutralise the militants. Footages of several squadrons of armed forces helicopters taking off from different bases in Pakistan, is widely being circulated on social media. A complete media blackout has been imposed in Pakistan with major news channels not being permitted to air any news on the ongoing hostage situation.
The BLA has used social media to warn that any military action could lead to severe consequences for the hostages.
The hijacking has raised global concerns over Pakistan’s security situation. Countries in the region are closely monitoring the crisis, as Baloch militants have intensified their activities in recent months. This has now turned into one of the deadliest terror attacks in Pakistan in over a decade.
The Pakistani government is under pressure to resolve the situation and secure the safe release of the hostages. Authorities are trying to negotiate while preparing for a potential military intervention.
It is reported that the BLA militants are armed with sophisticated U.S. weapons such as automatic M4 carbine rifles, armour-piercing bullets, anti-aircraft weapons and drone jamming systems, most likely taken from the large military weapons stockpiles the U.S. left during their hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
The hijacking of Jaffar Express is one of the most serious security incidents in the region in recent years. With lives at risk, the world is watching how the Pakistani authorities will respond to this growing hostage crisis and the larger Baloch insurgency.
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