New Delhi: In a brazen act of defiance, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA)—a separatist militant organisation—has taken control of a commuter train in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. BLA militants intercepted a local train, Jaffar Express, coming from Quetta to Peshawar, and hijacked the train with more than 200 personnel and passengers covering with arms. A Pakistani military notice claimed 30 military personnel died in the assault.
BLA, whose insurgency targets the Pakistani government, had claimed responsibility for the hijack. They have given an ultimatum of 48 hours to the Pakistani government to release the imprisoned Baloch separatists in exchange for the hostages. The militants have threatened to retaliate in “the most cruel ways” if their demands are not met and to kill these hostages if security forces intervene.
This assault is a reminder that the separatist struggle in Balochistan continues, with the fighting for independence against Pakistan. Locals claim that the state and foreign investors exploit the natural resources, particularly in infrastructure projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). BLA has been focusing on Pakistani security personnel, civilians, and Chinese nationals as well, alleging that these nationalities are exploiting the resources of Balochistan while not letting the local people enjoy anything.
Pakistani authorities condemned the attack, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi describing the militants as “beasts” for attacking innocent passengers. The government has taken emergency measures to control the crisis, but there is no sign that it will give in to BLA demands. Instead, security forces have begun counteractions to liberate the kidnapped.