Pakistani Baloch Separatists Hijack Jaffar Express in Balochistan

12-03-2025

03:27 AM

1 min read

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Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) insurgents attacked and hijacked the Jaffar Express traveling from Quetta to Peshawar on March 11 in Balochistan’s Bolan district.
The BLA claimed responsibility, stating that 182 people were taken hostage, 20 Pakistani military officers were killed, and a drone was shot down.
This marks one of the largest recent attacks by Baloch insurgents amid ongoing unrest in the region.

The BLA emerged in the early 2000s with the goal of achieving Baloch independence.
Pakistan banned the organization in 2006, and the US designated it as a global terrorist group in 2019.

The US State Department describes the BLA as an armed group targeting security forces and civilians in Baloch areas of Pakistan.
The Majeed Brigade, its suicide squad active since 2011, led the Jaffar Express hijacking. It has been involved in previous attacks, including the March 2024 Gwadar port strike.
Other BLA units involved in the hijacking include the Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS), Fatah Squad, and Zirab Units.

The roots of the Baloch insurgency predate the BLA and are part of a broader, long-standing separatist movement in Balochistan.

The BLA seeks independence for Balochistan, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
It is the largest among several ethnic insurgent groups fighting Pakistan’s federal government for decades.
The insurgents claim Balochistan’s rich gas and mineral resources are unfairly exploited and should belong to the local people.

In 2022, the BLA shocked Pakistan’s security forces by attacking army and navy bases.
It has deployed women suicide bombers, including in attacks on Chinese nationals in Karachi and southwest Balochistan.
Recently, an umbrella group of Baloch ethnic factions announced efforts to unite under a single military structure, potentially escalating the insurgency further.

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, rich in natural resources but economically underdeveloped.
- Pakistan has four provinces – Balochistan, Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Ethnic Baloch communities have long accused the central government of economic neglect and Punjab’s dominance over resources, military, and bureaucracy.

After independence, Balochistan remained independent under a treaty with Pakistan until March 1948.
The Khan of Kalat, who controlled Kalat, Makran, Las Bela, and Kharan, initially sought independence but later signed the instrument of accession under political pressure.
British concerns over Russian influence and internal demands from other Baloch regions contributed to its integration into Pakistan.

Pakistan has accused India of supporting Baloch insurgent groups, an allegation India denies.
China’s China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a target of Baloch militants, who see it as exploitative and lacking local benefits.
In October 2024, the BLA claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed two Chinese nationals, highlighting their resistance to foreign involvement and Pakistan’s reliance on China.

Key to China's CPEC: Balochistan is crucial to China’s $65 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) under Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Rich in Resources: It hosts major mining projects, including Reko Diq, one of the world’s largest gold and copper mines, operated by Barrick Gold and China.
Security Concerns: The long-running Baloch insurgency has destabilized the province, threatening Pakistan’s plans to tap into its vast resources.
Geopolitical Significance: Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area but smallest by population, has a long Arabian Sea coastline near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route.

Q1. What is the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)?

Ans. The BLA is an armed separatist group seeking Balochistan’s independence, banned by Pakistan in 2006 and the US in 2019.

Q2. Why did the BLA hijack the Jaffar Express?

Ans. The BLA claimed the hijacking was part of their struggle for Baloch independence, targeting Pakistan’s military and security forces.

Q3. What are the roots of the Baloch insurgency?

Ans. The Baloch insurgency stems from historical grievances over resource exploitation and economic neglect by Pakistan’s central government.

Q4. Why is Balochistan strategically important?

Ans. Balochistan is rich in resources and key to China’s CPEC, with a coastline near the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Q5. How has the BLA intensified its attacks recently?

Ans. The BLA has attacked military bases, used women suicide bombers, and targeted Chinese nationals linked to CPEC projects.

Source: IE | DH