What you need to know about the Balochistan train attack

Around 70-80 BLA members hijacked the train as it was passing through the Mashkaf Tunnel and took 426 passengers hostage. The passengers include civilians and security force personnel. Balochistan’s government responded by declaring its intent to use emergency measures and put hospitals in the cities of Sibi and Quetta on high alert. The security forces also commenced a rescue operation.

The military operation’s second day commenced on 12 March. As of 16h00 (all times local), BLA reportedly remained in possession of over 200 hostages, while the security forces had rescued around 190 people, 37 of whom sustained injuries. The security forces had reportedly killed over 30 militants. BLA stated that it would execute hostages if the Pakistani state did not accept its demands. The military’s public relations wing announced at 21h20 that the operation against the militants had concluded, and that 21 civilians and four Frontier Corps (FC) paramilitary personnel had died.

Why did the incident happen?

While the attack on the Jaffar Express is unique in garnering significant global attention, BLA regularly carries out large-scale, complex attacks in Balochistan and Pakistan’s largest city of Karachi. BLA poses an EXTREME threat in Balochistan owing to having both very high capability and intent.

A video circulating on social media platforms on 12 March shows a BLA member asking Pakistan and China to withdraw from Balochistan. The group’s main targets are the Pakistani security forces, foreign nationals involved in infrastructure projects (particularly individuals from China) and ethnic Punjabis working in Balochistan. BLA represents a militant solution to the general Baloch grievance that Pakistan is a colonial state which extracts resources from Balochistan for the benefit of ethnic Punjabis and China. Of its three target groups, most of its attacks are aimed at security force personnel, as it sees the Pakistani military as both the biggest benefactor and the enforcer of a colonial system in the province.

BLA’s capability in Balochistan is extensive. The group has conducted several large-scale and complex attacks in Balochistan over the past twelve months. In the same period, the state security forces have appeared unable to maintain security in Balochistan. Analyses of its recent attacks indicate that it has access to heavy weaponry, reportedly left behind when the US military cleared out of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August 2021. There are reports that among BLA’s recruits are female university graduates and middle-class youths,

which shows that the group can draw from a pool of aggrieved young people in Balochistan who feel alienated by the Pakistani state.

Advice for travellers

• Defer non-essential travel to Balochistan owing to the EXTREME security risks. All parts of the province are at risk of terrorism, including the capital Quetta.
• Security risks are heightened for Chinese nationals and Pakistanis who are ethnically Punjabi, who should consider deferring all travel to the province unless stringent security measures are available.
• If travel is necessary, ensure it is undertaken with comprehensive security arrangements and that itineraries are fully assessed before deployment.

If you require further information or advice, Healix International clients can contact gsoc@healix.com.