Dipak Kurmi
(The writer can be reached at dipakkurmiglpltd@gmail.com.)
In a shocking escalation of violence, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on the Jaffar Express, a passenger train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. The insurgent group announced that it had hijacked the train, taking 214 passengers hostage and threatening their execution unless its demands were met. While local authorities have not confirmed the exact number of hostages, the attack highlights the intensifying conflict between the Pakistani state and Baloch nationalist militants.
The assault took place in the Bolan Pass, a rugged and strategically vital region in southwestern Pakistan known for its long history of insurgency. The attack underscores the growing reach and capabilities of the BLA, which has been engaged in a decades-long struggle for independence and self-determination for Balochistan. The province, Pakistan’s most resource-rich yet impoverished region, has long been at the centre of political tensions, economic exploitation, and human rights abuses.
Balochistan: A Land of Struggle and Resistance
The Baloch people, an ethnic Sunni Muslim group, inhabit a vast, arid region spanning southeastern Iran, southwestern Pakistan, and parts of Afghanistan. With a population of around nine million, the Baloch have historically faced marginalisation and neglect by central governments. Despite its vast natural wealth—gold, copper, oil, and natural gas—Balochistan remains Pakistan’s most underdeveloped province, with nearly 70% of its population living in multidimensional poverty.
The roots of Baloch discontent trace back to 1948, when the Khan of Kalat, the tribal leader of Balochistan, was pressured into acceding to Pakistan following the Partition of India. This forced integration was met with widespread resistance, which has only grown over the decades. Successive Pakistani governments have relied on military force to suppress Baloch nationalist movements, fuelling further alienation and insurgency.
One of the most contentious issues fuelling Baloch grievances is the exploitation of the province’s natural resources. The Pakistani government has been accused of prioritising resource extraction and export while neglecting the needs of the local population. The development of Gwadar Port, a key project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), has further exacerbated tensions. Baloch nationalists argue that the project benefits Pakistan’s central government and China while offering little to the local population, who have been displaced and excluded from economic opportunities. The presence of Chinese workers and engineers in Balochistan has only intensified the resentment, with the BLA frequently targeting Chinese interests in the region.
The BLA: From Guerrilla Warfare to Organised Insurgency
Founded in the early 2000s, the Balochistan Liberation Army is the largest and most well-known militant group fighting for an independent Balochistan. Over the years, the BLA has evolved from a loosely organised insurgent group into a sophisticated and well-structured military force.
The group primarily employs hit-and-run tactics, bombings, and ambushes against Pakistani security forces, infrastructure, and foreign investments. More recently, it has expanded its scope, targeting Chinese projects under CPEC, which it perceives as another means of external exploitation. The BLA has specialised units, such as the Majeed Brigade, which has carried out high-profile attacks, including the hijacking of the Jaffar Express.
In response to the growing insurgency, Pakistan officially banned the BLA in 2006, and in 2019, the United States designated it a global terrorist organisation. However, despite these efforts, the group continues to expand its operations, adapting its tactics and increasing its support base.
Pakistan’s Military Response
and the Human Cost
The Pakistani government has long relied on military force to suppress the Baloch insurgency, employing counterinsurgency operations, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. Reports from human rights organisations suggest that over 10,000 Baloch people have disappeared since 2011, with many families still searching for their missing loved ones. This heavy-handed approach has only deepened the resentment among the Baloch population and fuelled the insurgency further.
In 2006, the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, a prominent Baloch leader, by the Pakistani military became a turning point in the insurgency. Bugti was a vocal critic of Pakistan’s policies in Balochistan, and his death galvanised the movement, leading to a surge in attacks against military and civilian targets. Since then, the insurgency has become increasingly violent and organised, with attacks on military bases, law enforcement, and infrastructure becoming more frequent.
Adding to the complexity is the presence of Taliban fighters in Balochistan. The influx of Pashtun refugees from Afghanistan has altered the demographic balance in the region, further marginalising the Baloch population. This has raised concerns among Baloch nationalists, who fear that the growing presence of Islamist militants could undermine their nationalist movement.
Geopolitical Implications: A Brewing Crisis for Pakistan
The escalation of the Baloch insurgency presents significant challenges for Pakistan, both domestically and internationally. Despite decades of military operations, the insurgency has only grown stronger, and Pakistan’s reliance on outdated counterinsurgency tactics has failed to produce any long-term solution.
One of the biggest risks for Pakistan is the potential strain on its relationship with China. The BLA has increasingly targeted Chinese interests in Balochistan, including Gwadar Port, which is a crucial component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Any disruption to CPEC could jeopardise billions of dollars in Chinese investments, straining relations between the two allies.
Moreover, if the conflict in Balochistan continues to escalate, it could destabilise Pakistan’s broader security landscape. The ongoing violence has already forced Islamabad to divert significant military resources to the province, weakening its ability to address other security threats, including those posed by Islamist militant groups.
A Crossroads for Pakistan: Military Crackdown or
Meaningful Dialogue?
The hijacking of the Jaffar Express serves as yet another reminder of the deep-seated grievances that continue to fuel the Baloch insurgency. Decades of political marginalisation, economic exploitation, and human rights abuses have left the Baloch people with little faith in the central government. As a result, many see militancy as the only path toward self-determination.
Pakistan now faces a critical choice: it can continue its military crackdown, which risks further alienation and bloodshed, or it can pursue a meaningful dialogue that addresses the root causes of Baloch discontent. A political solution—one that includes economic development, greater autonomy, and respect for human rights—remains the only viable path toward lasting peace. Without it, the conflict in Balochistan will persist, threatening Pakistan’s stability and its place in the international community.
As the BLA grows bolder and more sophisticated in its attacks, Pakistan must acknowledge that military force alone cannot resolve this conflict. Unless Islamabad takes concrete steps to address the longstanding grievances of the Baloch people, insurgency will remain an enduring and destabilising force in the region.