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The absence of cabinet meetings or official statements during the crisis suggests the civilian government was completely sidelined by the military, mirroring the disastrous handling of the Jaffar Express hijacking
People gather outside a train during an attack by separatist militants near Mashkaf, Pakistan. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
The recent hostage crisis in Balochistan has exposed a dangerous disconnect between Pakistan’s civilian government and its powerful military, raising serious concerns about the country’s stability and the safety of its citizens.
Despite claims of a successful operation, doubts linger about the true fate of the abducted army personnel. The government’s silence and conflicting narratives have fuelled suspicions of a botched rescue attempt and a potential cover-up.
Opposition leaders and intelligence sources point to a lack of transparency and coordination, with key opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan accusing the government of maintaining an “eerie silence” in the National Assembly. The absence of cabinet meetings or official statements during the crisis suggests the civilian government was completely sidelined by the military, mirroring the disastrous handling of the Jaffar Express hijacking.
Rana Sanaullah, Special Envoy to prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, appeared evasive and unprepared when questioned about the government’s response, further eroding public trust. Discrepancies in casualty figures and reports of remaining hostages contradict official claims of a swift resolution. Sources suggest as many as 150 soldiers may still be held captive, potentially moved to different locations with suicide bombers.
The crisis lays bare the fragility of Pakistan’s democracy and the unchecked power of the military. With the real representatives of the Baloch people silenced, the lack of accountability and transparency threatens to push the region further into turmoil.
Security officials on Thursday said they freed more than 340 train passengers in a two-day rescue operation that ended late on Wednesday after the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) bombed a remote railway track in mountainous southwest Balochistan and stormed a train with around 450 passengers on board.
BLA IS one of a number of separatist groups that accuse outsiders of plundering natural resources in Balochistan near the borders with Afghanistan and Iran.
Attacks by separatist groups have soared in the past few years, mostly targeting security forces and ethnic groups from outside the province. Security forces have been battling a decades-long insurgency in impoverished Balochistan but last year saw a surge in violence in the province compared with 2023, according to the independent Center for Research and Security Studies.
- Location :
Islamabad, Pakistan
