Baloch Insurgents Deal Rawalpindi GHQ a Body Blow

Balochistan wants independence and its thirst for freedom has only intensified over the years, but it has also led to the proportionate escalation of Pakistani military oppression. One of the main issues fuelling Baloch nationalism is the lack of control over their own resources.

- JOYEEETA BASU

Pakistan is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in insurgent activities, with the hijacking of the train Jaffer Express carrying 400 passengers—many of them security personnel—on Tuesday, around 160 kilometers from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. At the time of writing, around 155 hostages have been rescued and 27 Baloch insurgents killed, according to the Pakistani security forces. Apparently, the Baloch militants have killed 10 people until now. The Pakistanis are claiming that the Baloch hijackers are using hostages—most of whom are believed to be security personnel—as human shields. But the problem is, whatever information is coming is a Pakistani version of events, and their military establishment is among the biggest disseminators of fake information, so a cloud of disinformation hangs over the incident. But what is certain is that the Pakistan military has been caught napping and the hijacking is one of the biggest embarrassments for them, for it signifies a massive security breach and will have a negative impact on morale.