Author: Mehrzaad Baluch
The hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan has once again exposed the deep fault lines between the Pakistani state and the Baloch resistance. For decades, Islamabad has dismissed the Baloch struggle as terrorism, refusing to recognize the political grievances that have fueled this armed resistance. But the events of the recent days have made one thing clear: the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) is no longer operating as a scattered insurgent group, it is executing large-scale military operations with strategic precision, challenging Pakistan’s claim of control over Balochistan.
Instead of acknowledging its failures, Pakistan has resorted to its usual tactics—media suppression, misinformation, and military retaliation. The state insists that the hijacking ended in a successful rescue operation, but the BLA’s version suggests otherwise. With reports of military losses mounting, the question arises, is Pakistan truly in control of Balochistan, or is it simply refusing to admit defeat?
A Battle That Pakistan Could Not Win
The attack on the Jaffar Express was not a random act of violence, it was a carefully planned military operation. On March 11, 2025, BLA fighters derailed the train in the Mashkaf region of Bolan, Balochistan, capturing over 200 military and intelligence personnel. Civilians were released, following the BLA’s stated policy of not targeting non-combatants. This was not a mindless terror attack, but it was an attempt to force the Pakistani state to recognize the cost of its policies in Balochistan.
The BLA’s demand was simple, the release of Baloch political prisoners who had been forcibly disappeared by the Pakistani forces. Pakistan, as it has done in the past, refused to engage in negotiations. Instead, it launched an operation to retake the train, claiming victory within 36 hours. However, the BLA countered that the battle was still ongoing, that military personnel had been executed, and that its fighters had inflicted heavy losses on the Pakistani army.
On March 14, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), held a press conference declaring that the operation was a complete success. He claimed that all hostages were safely rescued and that every militant involved in the attack had been eliminated. He also accused India and Afghanistan of orchestrating the attack, dismissing the BLA as a terrorist group.
But just hours later, the BLA issued a statement contradicting the military’s claims. The group announced that all 214 hostages had been executed after Pakistan refused to negotiate. According to the BLA, the Pakistani army had walked into a carefully laid trap, suffering significant losses. The group also stated that its Majeed Brigade self-sacrificing fighters had inflicted heavy casualties before embracing martyrdom.
The Pakistani Military’s Cover-Up
Pakistan’s official version of events immediately came under scrutiny. If the military had indeed rescued all hostages, why did the BLA issue such a detailed statement claiming otherwise? If the operation was truly successful, why has Pakistan refused to allow independent journalists access to the affected area?
The contradictions in Pakistan’s claims raise serious questions about the credibility of ISPR’s narrative. Reports from Quetta suggested that a large number of military coffins were transported to Bolan, contradicting the military’s version of minimal casualties. The BLA, on the other hand, provided specific details about the attack, including how some hostages were locked inside train compartments and executed before Pakistani forces could reach them.
Pakistan’s refusal to admit its losses is not surprising. The military has long downplayed its defeats in Balochistan, portraying every battle as a victory regardless of the ground reality.
But for those who have followed the conflict closely, the Jaffar Express attack represents a major embarrassment for the Pakistani army.
The Rising Strength of the BLA
The BLA is no longer just an insurgent group engaging in hit-and-run attacks, it has evolved into an organized force capable of executing high-profile military operations. In 2020, the group carried out an attack on the Karachi Stock Exchange, striking Pakistan’s economic center and demonstrating its ability to operate far beyond Balochistan. By 2022, the BLA had launched prolonged assaults on Pakistani military bases in Nushki and Panjgur, holding off state forces for more than 72 hours. These attacks revealed the group’s ability to sustain engagements rather than just conduct quick strikes.
By 2024, the BLA had shifted to full-scale offensives. In Operation Herof, its fighters targeted 44 locations across 13 districts in Balochistan, attacking military convoys, paramilitary bases, and critical infrastructure. In Operation Dara-e-Bolan, BLA fighters seized and controlled a 70km area, cutting off key Pakistani military supply routes. The hijacking of the Jaffar Express represents the latest evolution of the BLA’s tactics, moving beyond direct battlefield engagements to strategic hostage-taking, designed to force the Pakistani state into political concessions.
This transformation signals a major shift in the Baloch resistance. No longer confined to sporadic attacks, the BLA is now capable of executing complex, multi-day operations, disrupting Pakistan’s control over Balochistan. This growing strength suggests that the insurgency is not fading away, as Islamabad often claims, but becoming more structured, disciplined, and determined.
Pakistan’s Failed Strategy and the Cost of Denial
Pakistan has refused to acknowledge the Baloch insurgency as a legitimate political movement, choosing instead to suppress it through military force. But history has shown that repression does not eliminate resistance, it only strengthens it.
By refusing to engage in prisoner exchanges, Pakistan has pushed the BLA toward more drastic measures. The execution of 214 hostages, if confirmed, is a direct consequence of the state’s unwillingness to negotiate. Islamabad had the opportunity to de-escalate the situation by considering the BLA’s demands, but it chose war over dialogue. This decision not only cost the lives of its own personnel but has likely emboldened the insurgents.
If Pakistan continues on this path, the conflict in Balochistan will escalate further. The BLA has already signaled that it is willing to intensify its operations. Future attacks could target more critical infrastructure, foreign investments, and even strategic military installations. The Pakistani state may claim victory in each battle, but the war is far from over.
The Need for International Scrutiny
One of the biggest failures of the international community is its silence on Balochistan. While the world speaks out against oppression in other conflict zones, it has largely ignored Pakistan’s brutal crackdown on the Baloch people. This silence allows Pakistan to continue its military operations without accountability.
The international media must demand access to Balochistan. If Pakistan is confident in its version of events, it should have no objection to allowing journalists and human rights organizations to investigate the Jaffar Express hijacking. Independent verification is necessary to determine whether Pakistan’s claims of a successful rescue operation are true or whether the BLA’s version of events is closer to reality.
The world must also recognize that the Baloch resistance is not a foreign-backed terrorist movement but a legitimate struggle against military occupation. Pakistan’s attempts to frame the insurgency as an external conspiracy are meant to distract from its own failures. The Baloch people are fighting for their rights, and their resistance deserves international attention.
A Turning Point in the Conflict
The hijacking of the Jaffar Express has sent a clear message that the Baloch resistance is not weakening, it is growing stronger. The Pakistani state is losing its grip on Balochistan, and its military-centric approach is failing. The BLA has shown that it can strike at will, and as long as Pakistan continues its policy of repression, the insurgency will only intensify.
Pakistan must now decide. Will it continue to wage an unwinnable war, or will it finally recognize that the Baloch struggle cannot be crushed by force? History suggests that Islamabad will stick to its hardline approach, but if the events of the past week have shown anything, it is that the Baloch resistance is here to stay. The sooner the world acknowledges this reality, the better the chances for a lasting resolution.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Balochistan Post or any of its editors.