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Pakistani intelligence sources reveal that BLA’s success in the Jaffar Express hijacking came from precise timing, local knowledge, and prior experience in targeting the same train.
Pakistani Intelligence confirm that the BLA’s internal coordination is becoming increasingly structured, making it harder to decode their movements and future threats. (Image/Agencies)
In a CNN News18 exclusive, sources within Pakistan’s intelligence have revealed alarming details about the Pakistani separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army’s (BLA) evolving tactics. The group is becoming deadlier by the day, with its latest attack on the Jaffar Express showcasing its strategic planning and operational sophistication. Intelligence sources confirm that the BLA’s internal coordination is becoming increasingly structured, making it harder to decode their movements and future threats.
A CALCULATED ATTACK: EXPLOSIONS, FIREARMS, AND HOSTAGE CRISIS
On March 11, 2025, the Jaffar Express was targeted in the Mushqaf area of Bolan district, Balochistan province, a region with 17 tunnels that provide natural barriers. The attackers detonated explosives at Tunnel Number 8, causing the train to derail and trapping it inside. This strategic move allowed them to take control of over 400 passengers, including military personnel, who were their primary targets for high-value hostages.
Following the derailment, the militants opened fire, engaging security forces onboard while securing their hold over the train. Pakistani intelligence sources reveal that BLA’s success in this hijacking came from precise timing, local knowledge, and prior experience in targeting the same train.
The BLA, which seeks independence for Balochistan province bordering both Afghanistan and Iran, said it had killed over a dozen soldiers and shot down a drone. There was no confirmation of that from Pakistani authorities.
BLA’S SHIFT IN STRATEGY: FROM GUERRILLA WARFARE TO HIGH-IMPACT OPERATIONS
For nearly 20 years, the BLA has been known for its low-intensity attacks. However, since 2018, it has shifted towards more organised and high-profile operations, including suicide attacks and planned hostage-taking missions. The attack on a bus carrying Chinese engineers in August 2018 marked the beginning of this trend.
This is not the first time the Jaffar Express has been targeted. A similar attack occurred in 2023, but this time, the BLA combined derailment with armed assault, ensuring prolonged control of the train. Pakistani intelligence suggests that militants deliberately chose a tunnel to restrict aerial retaliation and prolong their stronghold.
PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE: HOSTAGE RELEASE FOR PUBLIC SYMPATHY
As part of their well-planned strategy, the militants released some hostages, including women and children, to garner public sympathy and shift the narrative. Intelligence officials highlight that the BLA’s ability to negotiate from a position of strength comes from its mental resilience and calculated approach to hostage situations.
PAKISTAN’S COUNTERINSURGENCY DILEMMA
Pakistani intelligence sources acknowledge that the BLA’s attacks are aimed at weakening state control and amplifying their separatist movement. Despite repeated military operations, the insurgents continue to adapt, making it clear that traditional counterterrorism measures have limitations in Balochistan’s challenging terrain.
The Jaffar Express hijacking underscores Pakistan’s ongoing struggle to contain the insurgency. The BLA’s evolving tactics suggest that future attacks will be even more sophisticated, raising concerns about Pakistan’s national security vulnerabilities.
With Pakistan’s security forces still attempting to dismantle the BLA’s networks, the insurgency remains an unresolved challenge, showing no signs of de-escalation in the near future.
