Pakistan's restive southwestern province of Balochistan has been the scene of a yearslong insurgency, with a surge in attacks in recent years.
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Paddy’s burgers & morePassengers rescued by security forces from a passenger train attacked by insurgents arrive at a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Passengers rescued by security forces from a passenger train attacked by insurgents comfort each other upon their arrival at a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Passengers rescued by security forces from a passenger train attacked by insurgents eat food upon their arrival at a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. An injured passenger rescued by security forces from a passenger train attacked by insurgents arrive at a railway station in Much near Quetta, Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Ambulances park outside a railway station where rescued and injured passenger of a train attacked by insurgents are brought in Much, Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. An injured passenger rescued by security forces from a passenger train attacked by insurgents arrive at a railway station in Much near Quetta, Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Ambulances park outside a railway station where rescued and injured passenger of a train attacked by insurgents are brought in Much, Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Passengers rescued by security forces from a passenger train attacked by insurgents arrive at a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan, Wednesday, March 12, 2025. taking hundreds of people aboard the train hostageIslamabad-based independent analyst Abdullah Khan told The Associated Press the train hijacking was the worst attack to date by the BLA — and predicted the country will be shocked when the final details surface, including the number of casualties, which he expects to be high. At least 30 militants were killed in initial exchanges of gunfire around the Jafer Express since the BLA attacked the train. By late Wednesday, security forces had rescued 190 of the 450 passengers who were initially on the train, according to officials.Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province and the country's least populated. It’s also a hub for the country’s ethnic Baloch minority, whose members say they face discrimination by the government. The separatists have fought since the early 2000s for autonomy — if not outright independence — from Islamabad and for a greater share of natural resources that the undeveloped province abounds in, such as natural gas, oil and minerals. Over the years, the BLA has grown in strength, prompting some analysts to say the group today compares to the Pakistani Taliban in terms of the threat it poses for the country. The BLA has regularly targeted Pakistani security forces and has also in the past attacked civilians, including Chinese nationals working on multibillion-dollar projects related toAlthough the government insists it has significantly curbed violence, attacks in Balochistan have not abated. Islamic militant groups also operate in the province.The BLA, which both Pakistan and the United States have designated a terrorist organization, is estimated to have around 3,000 fighters, promptly claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday. The group seeks to establish an independent Baloch state, encompassing territories in Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan where the Baloch ethnic group lives. Islamabad maintains that the BLA is getting support from neighboring India, a rival and like Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation — though New Delhi has dismissed the allegation. The Pakistani government also claims that there is a degree of cooperation between the BLA and the country's top militant group, the Pakistani Taliban. Analysts say the BLA has grown more emboldened since the Pakistani Taliban ended a cease-fire with the government in November 2022, encouraging more militant attacks across the country.The two countries share a 900-kilometer border, which remains largely ungoverned, allowing smugglers and militant groups to move about freely. Both governments accuse each other of harboring or tolerating insurgent groups. Economic factors also drive the unrest, said Khan, the analyst, adding that it does not bode well for Pakistan's economy.Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative has poured billions of dollars into Pakistan but it has also alienated the Baloch minority further. They say Islamabad is exploiting Balochistan’s resources while neglecting the local communities. However, Syed Muhammad Ali, a security analyst, said that while the train attack may have provided the BLA with “instant public and media attention,” the likely civilian deaths from the attack will ultimately"weaken their support base” among the province's population. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Read full article: See these Insider Deals for home, beauty and sports enthusiasts
Syed Muhammad Ali Abdullah Khan
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