New Delhi, March 16 -- The hijacking of the Jaffar Express which was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar on 11 March 2025 resulted in the killing of 21 civilians, 4 soldiers and 33 militants. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. The Pakistan Army declared an end to the standoff on March 12, 2025 after storming the train and claimed to have rescued the majority of hostages.

Balochistan, which accounts for over 43% of Pakistan's land, has often complained of step-motherly treatment by Islamabad. The reason for a sense of alienation among residents of Balochistan is both economic and political. While in economic terms, people of the province have complained of their natural resources and minerals being...