ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Pakistan security forces are trapped in what is described as a “complex operation” against a group of separatists who attacked the train on Tuesday. The train had traveled from Quetta, the capital of the province in southwestern Balochistan to Peshawar, the capital of the northwest Kyber Paktunka province.
Fighters belonging to the Baroque Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group seeking Balochistan’s departure from Pakistan, have argued responsibility for the attack.
They targeted the Jafar Express as the train passed through a series of tunnels near the city of Sibi, about 160 km (100 miles) from Quetta.
Security sources have told the military operation is ongoing, but authorities have confirmed that a group of passengers have safely given way to a small station near the location of the attack.
Quetta Pakistani Railway official Rana Farrukh said nearly 70 passengers, including women, children and elderly people, had arrived at the Panir railway station, about 6 km (4 miles) from the scene of the attack.
“They completed their journey on foot following the railway tracks,” Falk told Al Jazeera without providing details about the passengers.
The train had passed through the Boranpas area, a rough mountainous area when attacked.
This is what we know so far, what is the background behind the attacks, the current situation and the decades-long conflict between Balochistan’s Pakistani state.
What happened to Jaffar Express?
The train included more than 400 passengers, including many women and children, as well as dozens of security guards.
We set out from Quetta at 9am (04:00 GMT) on Tuesday morning and set out on a journey through Punjab over 1,600km (994 miles) to reach our final destination in Peshawar. The trip takes about 30 hours and stops at around 30 stations across the country.
Railway authorities said the attack occurred around 1pm (08:00 GMT) when the train passed through Boranpass. The area is home to several tunnels originally built during British colonial rule.
Who claimed responsibility and how did the government respond?
After numerous attacks in the state over the past few years, the BLA has argued responsibility for the attack.
In a statement, the group allegedly killed at least six military personnel, blowing up railway tracks and halting the train. The BLA warned that military operations that responded would have “severe consequences.” The attackers claimed that the train passengers were now hostages, but dozens of passengers later arrived in Panhur.
The Pakistani military has so far issued no official statement regarding the claims and did not respond to questions from Al Jazeera.
State government spokesman Shahid Rind said the authorities have imposed an emergency on the nearest city, Sibi hospital.
Government officials also denounced the attack. Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi also expressed his prayers for the recovery of those injured.
“The beast fires on innocent passengers not worthy of concession,” Nakvi’s statement read.
What do we know about the victims and how does the government respond?
The hospitals in Quetta and Sibi are on alert, but no injured passengers were brought in there until late Tuesday night.
Railway authorities said that getting timely updates is difficult as there is virtually no mobile connection for remote, robust terrain.
Security sources claim that attackers use some women and children as human shields, preventing them from a full attack on them.
Authorities have also warned of online disinformation campaigns aimed at spreading panic.
Why did the attacks surge in Balochistan?
Balochistan, which is part of Pakistan’s largest region, has a population of 15 million.
Despite its rich in minerals and natural resources, including copper and gas, the state has long been a place of conflict between local residents and the government.
Baroque separatists, who demand independence from Pakistan, accused them of accusing them of acquiring and persecuting those who oppose it.
The Economic Corridor of China and Pakistan (CPEC), a $62 billion mega-development project launched a decade ago, has added another layer of complexity to the conflict.
The BLA has carried out numerous attacks on China’s interests, including CPEC’s flagship project, Gwadar Port. Several Chinese people were killed in these attacks.
In recent months, Balochistan has witnessed a dramatic surge in violence. At least 18 soldiers were killed in a BLA attack in Carat City last month. At the beginning of March, another suicide bombing of a woman exploded in carats, killing law enforcement officials.
Jaffar Express has also been targeted multiple times. Last year, the Bla Fighters blasted out part of the truck and stopped train services for two months.
In November, a suicide bombing at a train station in Ketta targeted the train just before its departure, killing at least 30 people, including security guards.
How did BLA enhance its functionality?
Analysts believe the BLA’s growing strength reflects the state’s failure to counter BLA’s fighter jets and its reliance on outdated strategies.
Washington, D.C.-based Balochistan expert Malik Siraj Akbar said the BLA has evolved into a massive operation as it carries out small-scale attacks, including personal targets and pipeline interference.
“The group is currently undergoing major attacks, like the recent attacks on passenger trains. This change reflects both its increased boldness and confidence that the government lacks the ability to contain them, not to mention effectively pursuing after such high-profile terrorist acts,” Akbar told Al Jazeera.
Rafiullah Kakar, a political analyst specializing in the Balochistan issue, said the BLA will strengthen its command structure and more directly manage operations to extremists on the ground.
“In addition, access to advanced weapons left behind by the US forces in Afghanistan has strengthened the group’s firepower and made the attack more deadly and refined,” Kakar told Al Jazeera.
Why did the nation not curb the rise in BLA?
In January, the Islamabad-based think tank Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) warned that the situation in Balochistan is “unsettled.” The report said attacks rose 119%, with over 150 incidents recorded last year.
The province has announced plans for a major military campaign in Balochistan, but it has not yet been realized.
However, Akbar says that in the aftermath of such an attack, the state has repeatedly launched military operations. These crackdowns often target innocent Baroque civilians, with no evidence linking evidence to the BLA or the rebellion.
“The government seems more interested in optics than justice. Considering that the work was done when we parade a few bodies on camera and then advocate for quick retaliation,” he said.
He also argued that the military was at a disadvantage in retaliatory action against Balochistan’s fighter planes.
“The BLA has excellent knowledge of terrain, but security forces, which mainly come from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, are not familiar with the land and route. This gives the rebels a great advantage,” Akbar said, adding that the troops are suffering from the failed intelligence report.
Can the government stop the BLA revival?
Kakar, who holds a doctorate from Cambridge University, argued that the worsening security situation stems from a disconnection of expansion between the state and Baroque citizens, not just information failures.
“For the past decade, the state has become a political engineering laboratory led by military facilities, with six different ministers set up caretakers over the course of 10 years,” he said.
He said this instability erodes democratic processes and undermines Congress’ politics as a viable tool for political struggle.
“The biggest beneficiaries of this growing national citizen disparity were the Baroque rebels who could recruit young men willing to embark on suicide missions,” Kakar said.
Akbar agreed, claiming that the state refused to treat the Baroque population with dignity.
“Islamabad relies on the provincial government, which serves as military puppets, urges the world to convince that there is no crisis in Balochistan on propaganda and that the state continues to take control of its solid state,” he said.
Additional report by Saadullah Akhtar from Quetta, Pakistan
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