Baloch rebels in Pakistan have seized the Jaffar Express carrying 400 passengers. Sources say that 100 Pakistani army soldiers and several ISI officials were on board along with hundreds of ordinary travelers. It’s also reported that army officers from Quetta, one of Pakistan’s major military bases, were in the train, suggesting that many important figures might have been among the passengers.
Pakistan’s Air Force base Samangali is very close to Quetta International Airport, where a squadron of JF-17 Thunder fighter planes is stationed. Pakistan Army’s XII Corps (Southern Command) is also located in this Quetta city. This command is responsible for security and military operations in the Balochistan region. This army often takes action against Baloch rebels. That is why the soldiers of the Baloch Liberation Army are irritated with them. They have also taken major action against them many times.
How the attack was carried out
According to the Pakistani Railways, when the express train was passing through a tunnel, 8 gunmen attacked and hijacked the train. They fired on it and stopped it. After this, all the passengers were taken hostage. BLA has clearly warned the Pakistani army that if they launch any military operation to rescue the hostages, all the hostages will be killed. BLA has blown up the railway tracks in Dhadar area of Bolan in Balochistan and captured the Jaffar Express train, in which all the more than 120 passengers are hostages. So far 06 Pakistani military personnel have been killed in the operation. Baloch rebels have also beaten up some soldiers.
Army and government on alert
The Balochistan government has ordered that emergency measures be taken and all institutions should remain active. The army has been alerted in that direction. The public has been appealed to remain calm. But the way news of army soldiers and ISI officers being in that train is coming out, the problems of the Pakistani army have increased. The government is in trouble. It is not able to understand how to deal with this.