Tariq Lodhi

Contents

THE AMBUSH.. 3

TERROR CONFEDERATES & INDIAN ROLE.. 16

AN ACT OF WAR AMIDST HYBRID WARFARE. 23

LEFT BEHIND AMERICAN WEAPONS IN AFGHANISTAN.. 25

SUGGESTIONS. 29

EPLIOGUE.. 35

THE AMBUSH

1. On 11-Mar-2025, at about 13:00 Hrs, PST, when the Jaffar Express, an express inter-provincial train, with nine (09) coaches, and about 440-manifested persons to travel by this train as it left Quetta for Peshawar on 11-Mar-2025, for a 3—hours journey.  These 440 persons included 427-passengers, of whom 323-passengers, including women and children were to board from Quetta, while the remaining bookings were for passengers to board from enroute stations in Balochistan.   There were 6-railway police and 7-railway employees also on the ill-fated train.  There are no confirmed reports about how many boarded from in-between stations, or if any passengers had boarded without reservation or ticket.  After having departed Quetta for Peshawar, Jaffar Express was ambushed in the mountainous terrain between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar, short of Sibi[1] few minutes after 13:00 hrs.  The train was derailed by terrorists by detonating IEDs planted along the right-hand side rail-track, about 300-400 yards from the Tunnel No: 08.  As soon as the locomotive passed over the IED, the IED exploded, most likely by remote control by terrorists hiding nearby, as the wheel assembly of perhaps the rear wheels of the bogey behind the engine collapsed, while section of right-side railway line and slipper buckled away, rendering the 398-ft length of the track unusable.  The terrorist lying-in-ambush in surrounding area opened indiscriminate fire on the train, as explosions were also heard by the passengers. These explosions were probably caused by exploding grenades launched by grenade launchers, which were later seen with the terrorists who were killed in the encounter.  Initial unconfirmed reports suggested that the locomotive driver was injured due to the firing[2].  The front left-hand side windscreen of the locomotive on the driver’s position was smashed by a bullet, while the right-side wind-screen had a clean bullet hole in it.  According to the driver, the bullet had zipped past behind his shoulder, only grazing it.  Considering the alignment of the possible trajectory of the bullet, it appears that the bullets were fired on the smashed screens from higher elevation, and likely after neutralizing the FC Picquet.  This also suggests the position of the advance terrorist team’s position from where it had ambushed the FC personnel.  The bullet hole and damaged front windscreen of the locomotive suggest that the driver had been initially targeted, and this could have been achieved by aiming from a higher elevation by trained and well-equipped sharpshooters of BLA.  
2. Deliberate confusion was created by unidentified media outlets linked to India, as some claimed that the train was intercepted in Tunnel Number 8, (apparently it refers to the Mashkaf Tunnel that is located about 21-km short of Sibi), while another media outlet reported that the train was stuck just outside the tunnel, surrounded by the mountains.   Mysteriously, a video-clip attributed to the BLA became viral, as it displayed the visuals of a train in flat terrain being sabotaged.  In fact, where the train was ambushed was in vicinity of Mashkaf Tunnel, which constituted a natural choke point, that was further restricted due to sharp bend, and was guarded by an FC picquet on high ground above the tunnel mouth.  The trains passing through this area have to slow-down, thus offering a large vulnerable potential target for the terrorists.  As a standard procedure, the tunnel was guarded by three (03) FC personnel, who were deployed on high-ground to offer better visibility and perform look-out duties.  These three gallant FC personnel were perhaps the first causalities, as the expert snipers accompanying the BLA terrorists shot them, shortly before the train was to arrive there.  Knowing the train time tables, the FC staff must have had stepped out to have a better view of the railway track, so that they could report any abnormal observation, when the fell prey to the snipers.  It would have been only after the snipers secured the FC picquet over the tunnel, that the IED expert terrorist would have accessed the railway line to fix the IED, which was well calibrated to derail the engine only. 
3. According to a security official who was on the train right from the beginning, the train stopped soon after explosions and was followed by sounds of firing. Subsequently, there were several noises of possibly Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs), under whose barrage, a number of militants descended from the mountain sides[3].  According to this witness, there were seven security officials on the train who fired and engaged the terrorists.  It is not known if they were able to take out any terrorist, but nevertheless, according to him, their ammunition was depleted in one and half hour, despite regulating it onto single shots.  He further describes that as their gun power failed, the terrorists approached the train from the higher ground.
4. As the hostages were the primary objective, it must have been the foremost interest of the terrorists to capture them, before the passengers could organise and offer some sort of resistance.  Seizing the derailed train, the terrorists immediately, began to check the ID cards for an apparent ethnic profiling, but in fact they were segregating valuable hostages, including military personnel and families.  In a systematic and pre-planned manner, that spoke of extensive training, the terrorists distributed the valuable hostages into groups, and under command of armed terrorists, the hostages were led away in small groups, for their pre-designated safe havens, leaving behind only a few armed terrorists to control the remining passengers in different compartments.  Immediately after seizing control of the train, and segregating the passengers, the terrorists, fearing resistance, immediately murdered several passengers, ostensibly belonging to Security Forces.  By the time the rescue operation was launched, the terrorists had killed 21-security forces personnels, all of them being unarmed and were aboard the train as passengers.
5. As the hostages were forcefully disembarked from the train and were made to walk down towards the riverbed, about 300 to 400 feet yards away, when they were positively identified and interdicted by the Air-Sentries.  This is clearly deducible from the video-clips released by ISPR, which also show movement of about 20 persons on foot going towards the riverbed.   It would be few hours, still in daylight that the terrorists holding these mostly military personnel and families, that they would be picked and eliminated by Pakistan Armed Forces’ snipers, landed on higher ground by helicopters.  
6. It exposes the frustrated BLA plan to carry-away these hostages from along the dry-riverbed, which appears to be usable for motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles.  Already hundreds of such distinctively blue, medium-sized pickup trucks known as ‘Zambad’ widely used by smugglers for fuel and other items across borders, are abundantly available through criminal gangs.  With stricter checks on smuggling, desperate Zambad operators are eager to find some alternate deployment of their pick-ups and their expertise.    The river-bed would have constituted the main planned, escape and evasion route for the terrorists, except that Pakistan’s Security Forces had already dominated it.  It was also mentioned by witnesses that after escorting away the selected hostages, the most of the terrorists left the train and perhaps the area.  It is believed that after selecting and escorting the hostages, the remaining passengers were left to a smaller armed-team responsible to tackle them, and perhaps performing as a decoy or bait for the security forces to first attempt to rescue the hostages on the train.  The terrorists high-command in fact had known that these terrorists are dead-men-walking and they had abandoned them to their fate, which they ultimately met.  The other members of the group, that were perhaps from among the so-called elite BLA groups, scuttled away to safety, just like they were recalled by their masters from Mach area in Apr-2024 to save their skins.   
7. It seems that the Air-Sentries had effectively pinned down the terrorists who were commandeering the groups of hostages, while simultaneously, the snipers who had taken positions around the interdicted and pinned down terrorists set on to their work, and one by one, neutralized the suicide bombers, allowing an opportunity to the hostages to escape.  Meanwhile, when the outer cordon was completed, using composite means, besides helicopters, the Pak-Army team responsible for the train’s safety, had also successfully pinned down the terrorists at the train, who would now-and-then take cover by crawling under the train compartments, where some met their sudden death at hands of the expert military snipers, allowing the hostages in those compartments to escape to safety.  It is possible that the leading or experience terrorists, being well-trained and experienced had already fled by the time the outer cordon came in place, or, are still holed up in caves or ravines of the area, as the combing operations continue.
8. Previous Attacks on Jaffar Express:          In the past, there have been several attacks on the railway stations and tracks to disrupt traffic and Jaffar Express has been particularly targeted at several occasions.  The terrorists aim to severe the surface connectivity of Balochistan and its capital Quetta with rest of the country.  Earlier on night 25-26-Aug-2024, saboteurs had blown a railway bridge in Dozan area of Balochistan, forcing suspension of railway traffic for about a month and half[4].  Six unidentified bodies were also found near the destroyed bridge.  It is not known, if these were the bodies of the foreign terrorists, who had been carried along by the terrorists in hope of evacuation and later abandoned, or they were innocent civilians.  Quetta-Taftan railway link was also attacked same day.  By-and-large, the terrorists appeared to have used motorcycles and four wheeled pick-ups on the public roads for infiltration and exfiltration, thus pointing towards improved surface mobility capability of the terrorists.  On 09-Nov-2024, at least 26 people, including armed forces personnel were killed, while 62 were injured when a suicide bomber detonated at the Quetta railway station, as military personnel and other families were preparing to board the Jaffar Express[5].
9. The trains or the mass transit systems remain an attractive target for terrorist groups. On 07-Jul-2005, at 08:50 hours, there were coordinated explosions by the IEDs targeting the London Underground, which killed 39-people, while another IED exploded on the upper-deck of double-decker bus, at Tavistock Square.  A simultaneous explosion had struck on the underground trains at Russell Square, which killed 26-people and injured more than 340, another at Aldgate, killing 7 and injuring more than 170, and yet another at Edgeware Road, killing 6 and injuring more than 160[6].  Similarly, on 29-Mar-2010, two female suicide bombers detonated themselves in the Moscow subway system at the Lubyanka and Park Kultury train stations at between 08:00 and 08:45 hours in the morning, at the rush hours. This killed 37 people and injured more than 107.  Another unexploded suicide belt was retrieved at Park Kultury station, probably abandoned by some other suicide bomber who had cold feet and vanished. These attacks were considered to have been conducted by Chechen rebels[7].
10. Terrorists often target innocent passengers travelling in mass transit situations, since they constitute soft targets.  Metrojet flight 9268, which was a commercial Russian A321 Airbus aircraft, was sabotaged and brought down when the Islamic State terrorists had smuggled a concealed IED on board, as the aircraft left Egyptian airport of Sharm el-Sheikh for St. Petersburg on 31-Oct-2015.  Passengers and the crew member, totalling 224, were killed as a result of this crash[8]. In another suspected suicide bombing, on 04-Apr-2017, a blast occurred in St. Petersburg’s train carriage, which killed 11-persons and wounded 45[9]. It was suspected that Islamic State, is responsible for this attack as well.  The French METRO train system was targeted more recently, on 26-Jul-2024, when mysterious fires erupted in different places in synchronized manner along the high-speed train system, which was aimed to disrupt and cause panic at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.  The fire was triggered by improvised incendiary bombs, attached to the railings or the conduits through which the critical cable signalling system for the Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) or “high-speed train” were being routed. This did cause widespread disruptions, but the public and the passengers were saved from any physical injuries[10].
11. Changed Rules of the Game:            Pakistan’s military has effectively established its superiority and demonstrated its ability to take on to any challenge arising from Hybrid Warfare and has proven its capability counter such challenges at several fronts at the same time. This incident has provided the security forces of Pakistan to pay-back professionally in same coins and abandon any hesitations which existed earlier including falling back only on the strategies of one-sided negotiations or deceptive streamlining formulas.   The armed forces have rightly demonstrated that the Rules of The Game have changed and henceforth it would be the security forces who would hold the option of initiative and surprise.
12. The Hostile Intelligence Agencies (HIAs) had failed to recognize the telltale signs of the changed paradigm where Pakistan’s security forces, had transited from reactive forces to proactive forces, that has significantly reduced reaction time to carry-out pre-emptive strikes, for Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs).  This transition also underscores the improved intelligence and inter-agency coordination, which over-all has shifted the strategic balance in favour of Pakistani security forces, rejuvenated the public support for the armed forces, breaking away from misdirected, misconceived narratives, often manipulated by HIAs.
13. Dead Men Don’t Tell Tales:              Reportedly, BLA Commander Bashir Zeb Baloch was the mastermind of the attack on Jaffar Express on 11-Mar-2025, who was operating under the overall direction by RAW.  Reports circulating on the media suggest that he has died under mysterious circumstances, similar to his predecessor, Aslam Achoo.  It had been a little surprise when the leader of his own faction of BLA, Aslam Achoo, along with his five comrades[11] was killed by a Suicide Bomber in Kandahar’s Aino Maina Development area as a consequence of power struggle on 25-Dec-2018[12].  It appears that like before, the BLA masters have silenced Bashir Zeb, lest the nexus between BLA, Jaffer Express and the complete chain of its Indian Handlers is compromised.  Some media sources claim that he was in Iraq when killed, while others claim that he was at an unidentified location in or around Pakistan, hinting that it has been a result of the proactive response by the Pakistan’s security forces. 
14.    Bashir Zeb Baloch had seized the command of the BLA in 2018, after the planned assassination of Aslam Achoo, whereby Afghan government’s involvement had been clearly demonstrated through assassinations of several BLA leaderships in Afghanistan, in a process that can be best described as seizing the controls of BLA. It is said that Bashir Zeb Baloch was a doctor by profession, who had completed his FSC from Degree College Quetta, and had also got a diploma of Engineering from Polytechnic Quetta, later entered in the Master’s program of Baloch literature in 2008.  As a student, he had remained an active member of BSO, which is a proscribed organisation.  He had become the Chairman of BSO by 2008 and held this position till 2012.  He was denied admission in Balochistan University in 2008 for being associated with the proscribed BLA organisation.  By that time, he was already wanted by police in several cases, who were conducting raids in various parts of Quetta to effect his arrest.  By 2012 he formally joined the Baloch Liberation Army along with several other BSO members.  He, with his background and student leadership experience, surpassed the earlier leaderships, which were held by tribal chiefs, amongst them Herbyiar Marri.  His role in BLA cadres started weakening the control of the other traditional leadership as he became a threat to them.  It is believed that he was already a planted Indian agent, who had been groomed through BSO, which has its own history spanning to several decades before and its known nexus with KGB-RAW axis.  Having had an access into these student organizations, he was capable of indoctrinating and recruiting more young people and broaden the base for BLA and execute more violent and innovative terrorist acts.  Bashir Zeb Baloch succeeded in convincing a former Security Forces person, Gul Rrahman, being from Noshki, and probably his childhood friend, to join BLA; he was to become his right-hand in conduct of terrorism, and a big catch for his ultimate handlers across borders.  With his military skills acquired from the Security Forces, he is believed to have undertaken responsibility of recruiting potential Suicide Bombers, and training them for more lethal attacks.  He soon became an asset for the BLA.    Possibility of Rahim Gul also participating in the attack on Jaffar Express, and escaping, cannot be ruled out.
15. It was during the Jaffar Express Hijack episode at Tunnel Number Zero Eight, that complete real-time intelligence streaming was being provided by the Indian Intelligence Agencies, obtained from their technical and other intelligence related arms, and like the incident at Mach in Apr-2024, the terrorist leadership, which was most likely inclusive of regular or traceable agents like Kulbhushan Jadhav, were instructed to evacuate the Operational Area.  These BLA members hastily abandoned their comrades without a second thought and fled to pre-designated safe havens.  The Indian masters were ruthlessly using the BLA recruits at the Tunnel Number Zero Eight as expandable material.  An unspecified number of more experienced BLA terrorists who had booked their seats fraudulently on the Jaffar Express, and had boarded it for purpose of springing in action, in case the primary plan of derailing the train failed, and had planned to initiate secondary plan of hijacking the train by brutal force, as the train would have entered the Tunnel Number Zero Eight.  These teams, being no-longer required had also fled once the train was crippled.  This fleeing of the Ghost Passengers, would subsequently be covered-up by the Indian media raising a numbers-controversy.
16.   The Security Forces of Pakistan, who were already alert after issue of advance Threat Alert, perhaps immediately diverted one of its drones to interdict the attackers.  Security protocols were immediately initiated, helicopters with first-responders were launched, and drones were posted as Air-Sentries.  Specialised Units of Pakistan Army, Airforce, Frontier Corps (FC) and Special Services Group were deployed in addition to mobilizing all segments of the provincial government, as local emergency was declared.  By swift deployment by the Pakistan’s Security Forces, the terrorists were deprived of availing sufficient Accumulated Delay Time in the train and at the scene of incident.  All the earlier calculations by the terrorists appear to have fallen apart when the Pakistan Security Forces retaliated swiftly and decisively, taking the bull by the horns.  The terrorists were perhaps estimating that it would take 3 / 4 hours for a full-blown security backup to arrive and by that time, the terrorist along with their hostages would have taken refuge in pre-determined hideouts to survive against possible bombing or rocket attacks.  It is evident that the HIAs had grossly underestimated the capabilities of the Pakistani Security Forces, and public reaction in face of such crisis situation.  Larger bulk of the troops and relief support were moved by trains as close to the hijacked train as safely possible.  It was a response beyond the imagination of the Indian masters and their resident sitting in Afghanistan, over-seeing and coordinating the operation by BLA.  The counter operation had been launched instantly with the detonation of the IEDs to derail Jaffar Express.  The area was effectively encircled in highly structured and coordinated manner, as the outer, middle and inner cordons were timely put-in-place in record time.  The Counter-Operation was being conducted in extraordinarily coordinated manner, and security and safety of the hostages, was paramount concern.  The Security Forces seem to have moved from outer-cordon inwards, ultimately reaching the area where the crippled train was stranded.
17.   The military had very effectively pinned the terrorists to be confined up to the train and its immediate vicinity. Several of these terrorists, fearing surreptitious attack by Pakistan’s Security Forces tried to step-out of the train compartment, but under warning shots, had to duck-down under the carriages, where they were kept pinned down, until they were finally shot.  The Security Forces, apparently after neutralizing the identified Suicide Bombers, both accompanying the various interdicted and pinned groups of hostages, and those assigned to the train with remaining passengers, had moved inwards, to finally safely rescue the hostages.  Subsequently, those terrorists who had been abandoned by their comrades and were forced to take refuge in and around the train were finally targeted and taken out, before commencing the mopping-up operation and removing any booby trappings. 
18. Magnetic Mines:        The Bomb Disposal Squads upon conducting sanitization operations at the stranded Jaffar Express, discovered and safely defused atleast 8 x Magnetic Bombs, that were planted in selected bogies, that were to be blown-off with the hostages inside, and perhaps along with their expendable BLA terrorist-guards.  However, this discovery connects it to the earlier Indian media report claiming that the train has been set on fire by BLA, and confirms the earlier assertions of connivance of sections of Indian media with BLA.  Apparently, Indian media outlets in their overzealousness to make BLA’s terrorist act a success, had broadcasted the narratives based on the advance copies provided by the BLA handlers to carry out a propaganda blitzkrieg using their propaganda brigades, and Social-Media surrogates.  On the other hand, it is yet to be established that what was the origin of those magnetic bombs or IEDs which have been the favourite tool to carry out assassinations in Iran by the Israeli agents. The use of these IEDs by anti-Taliban groups backed by India, was also noted in Afghanistan, and more alarmingly, such mines have been reported in False Flag Operations conducted by India in IIOJK and in India itself to discredit Hezbollah.  It needs to be confirmed if the said recovered IEDs bear any markings of similar IEDs and explosives held by Taliban from the left-behind stocks or otherwise.  The Bomb Disposal exercise was also necessary and a part of the SoPs, as there were unexploded grenades scattered in the area, and had to be diffused, before allowing other agencies to approach the area.
19. The Coffins:   There is a tale attributed to the siege of Siege of Potidaea (around 429–427 BCE), (modern-day Greece) where during the war time, the besieged troops had fed a calf with their remaining wheat grains, and left the calf to wander out so as to deceive the besieging armies and give an impression that they have got abundance of food available to them.  In this way, it was used as a psychological weapon against the people who had besieged the fort.  It may have come as a media scoop when some news-hunters had thrown this “scoop-bait” before the Indian media, who immediately interpreted this move as confirmation of their earlier relay of BLA messages that they have taken 200-hostages.  They also thought this would vindicate their false claim of large number of deaths, as these coffins, God forbid, would be for the hostages.  My opinion is that the highly visible dispatch of these coffins was a very cunning deception, which was duly picked up by the nosy news hunters and reached the BLA and its supporters as a clear message that Pakistani security forces were prepared to sacrifice the lives of the hostages, but will not negotiate.  This clear sign of no negotiations would have come as a final blow to the morale of the terrorists and its masters, who could see their plans crumbling down.  The refusal of the state to negotiate with terrorists was an act of great courage and is highly commendable, worthy of the institutions.  The warnings, demands and ultimatums were correctly interpreted as the first signs of the BLA’s weakness.
20. Meanwhile, Indian media, in a robotic manner, had been narrating the pre-planned narratives and scripts, and began broadcasting statements, warnings, demands and ultimatums on behalf of BLA, that was closely followed by Indian sponsored Social Media trolls and dis-information brigades.  Immediately after the incident, social media was flooded with a BLA hand-out, that was given global publicity by Indian media, in which, ostensibly BLA had placed the demand of “unconditional release of Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and national resistance activists”[13],  subsequently adding that some women and children have been released, while 182-hostages remain in the BLA’s captivity[14].  The bogey of the BLA’s propaganda fell flat by its escalation through the Indian media as all their threats, warnings and statements proved to be not only exaggerated but at times totally baseless.  One thing is quite obvious, if the BLA had even a single hostage from Jaffar Express, BLA and its benefactors on both sides of Pakistani borders would not have had left a single stone un-turned to publicise it and try to salvage BLAs collapsed narratives.  The Indian media had tried to develop a media hype about this incident, primarily to aggrandize the BLA and to belittle the Pakistan’s Military and to sow seeds of dissent within the Pakistani society.  With the excellent performance of the Military, who did not disappoint Pakistan, further related plans of the sponsors of this attack have been frustrated for now.  Indian media’s role in propagating this false-news needs to be appropriately condemned and taken up in appropriate international forums. 
21. Rewind:           Piecing together and working backwards, this operation, was evidently extensively planned by the HIAs, who had chosen this place due to its Dead Zone characteristic, and degree of difficulty to be faced by the Security Forces while deploying re-enforcement, and feasibility to whisk-away the hostages into immunity-zones under BLA influence.  But most of all, the aspect of international media coverage, and the potential of inordinately stretching the hostage drama must have been one of the priorities.  For this the HIAs, like the pre-recorded video-statements of the Suicide Bombers, necessary narratives and material would have been assembled.  With pre-prepared media contents using fake and doctored contents, polished by AI, the Indian propaganda Brigades were also in sync and ready to unleash on the word-go.  Only in some cases, they jumped the gun, and disgorged the contents that were not in sync with ground situation.  Large segment of the Indian media was thus functioning as a force-multiplier to disseminate all the fake and false news being generated by BLA’s rumour mills.
22. Unlike previous attacks, where the BLA terrorists had been wearing deceptive uniforms of security forces, the BLA terrorists in this instance were clad in dress worn by general public.   It is assessed that the BLA had infiltrated some of its terrorists dressed as normal local passengers using the train as a Trojan Horse to gain access into the operational area planned for the derailment of Jaffar Express, in a manner seen among Aircraft hijackers.  They had so dressed to merge in the public and board the train as passengers from various stations enroute, and to initiate the terrorist attack to seize hostages as soon as signal was given to them, either at the moment the train was forcefully halted, or at any optimum time, if the derailing effort was to fail.  Most likely, a number of the bookings made were in fake names by BLA facilitators and they boarded from Quetta or other stations in between. 

• Nexus Exposed:         This operation has exposed the BLA before those fence sitters who were earlier captivated by the skilled propaganda prepared and disseminated by its sponsors albeit the Indian media which, otherwise had already been exposed several times, particularly after the compromise of the Indian Chronicles[15]. The incident has also given a befitting reply to those critics who had been advertently or inadvertently promoting the narratives of the terrorist groups.  The action by the security forces has clearly drawn the line between a political struggle and foreign sponsored terrorism, that should serve as an eye opener for a large number of those innocent people who had been affected by the propaganda and had at times extended political or material support to the terrorists and their facilitators.
• Operation Concluded:          By evening of 11-Mar-2025, 100-passengers were rescued safely, while efforts by the elite Special Forces were continuing their work to rescue the remaining hostages.  Later, by midday on 12-Mar-2025, 155-passengers remaining on board had been rescued and despatched to safe hands.  By next day, on 12-Mar-2025, the operation was completed as all the hostages were rescued safely.  All 33-Terrorists. Including unspecified number of Suicide Bombers were killed.  The terrorists had already killed 21-passengers, yet to be named, immediately during over-powering of the train by the terrorists.  Including the three FC personnel killed at the FC Check-Post set-up by Railway, and one FC official who embraced martyrdom during the encounter, a total 26-persons from amongst the 440-passengers were reported killed, that included 18-Security Forces personnel, 3-Pakistan Railway employees, and 05-civilians.  The operation had lasted for 36-hours in all, during which all phases were successfully accomplished by the Pakistan Armed Forces, which was a remarkable and applaudable feat. 
• Condemnations:        There were condemnations from United Nations, USA, China and Iran, against the terrorist act of BLA.  It may be noted that all these three countries consider BLA as a terrorist organization.  China has shown its deep concerns over the presence of militant groups in Afghanistan, including TTP, ETIM / TIP, BLA and ISIS-K, and has hinted at calling a tri-partite meeting, including Pakistan, Afghanistan and China.  Tehreek-e-Taliban in Pakistan and the increasing activity noted regarding East Turkmenistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), as well as BLA and ISIS-K are all possible only because of either weak Taliban response or tacit permissibility for them to operate outside the borders. 
• Expectations from HR Organisations:      Terrorists undoubtedly, like all terrorists across the world, were using the females, women and children as a human shield to hide themselves behind them.  However, it is quite unlike Baloch traditions and culture to make women and children hostage and also use them as human shields.  It is unfortunate that so far, the number of so-called activists who had been trumpeting governments high-handedness have failed to even condemn such an inhuman activity.  This eerie silence by these activists’ lays-bare their motives which are driven more by either ethnicity or by other factors except genuine humanitarian concerns.  With this blatant trampling of Human Rights by the BLA terrorists, globally demonstrated through the attack and hostage taking of the innocent passengers, warrants full-throated condemnation of the BLA and its facilitators, including those media actors who had facilitated BLA through circulating fake and doctored news and visuals.  The Human Right Bodies, Journalism and media related bodies, etc. should rise to the occasion and speak out against the perpetrators, facilitators and actors in this sordid drama.  Absence of any voices from the traditional pseudo-Baloch voices were very conspicuous since there was not even a whimper of support in favour of the hostages, that now exposes the inherent weakness and duplicity of these groups. This exposure of the role of these Pseudo-Nationalists has allowed Pakistan to adopt a no-nonsense approach towards the groups, while it has completely deflated the balloon of exaggerated numbers of missing persons.
• NRF Reaction:             Afghanistan’s National Resistance Front (NRF), in a surprise first, has leveraged the recent uptick in Pakistan’s terrorism, particularly in context of the Jaffar Express incident of 11-Mar-2025, to again allege that the Taliban are providing safe havens in Afghanistan to the international terrorist groups.  UN, and several other countries have also accused Afghanistan for harbouring more than two-dozen terrorist groups in Afghanistan, as the Taliba de-facto government is allowing them to establish training camps, and conducting cross-border terrorist activities, which is grossly against the spirit of the Doha Agreement.  These terrorist groups, who are known to be comrades in arms of the TTA, and are also known to have good lateral relationship with other terrorist groups, have been helped by the de-facto Afghan government in relocating and settling in other parts of Afghanistan, with a large number being relocated to Northern Afghanistan and Badakhshan province.  According to NRF, this dispersal of the terrorist groups has been carried out to protect these groups from possible drone attacks, and to poach as well as bribe tribes to join them against the Northern Alliance groups.  According to sources, the Taliban government has cunningly partnered with these terrorist groups in controlling the mineral and commerce resources in Northern Afghanistan, while allowing nominal opportunities to locals, thus significantly reducing the sway of Northern Alliance.  This method of incentivising and sharing or partnering, is proving to be effective to the determent of the Northern Alliance, but is also terror-financing the terrorist groups, to the agony of other neighbouring states[16].  This statement by NRF echoes Pakistan’s allegation that the BLA terrorists in Jaffar Express incident were in direct contact with the terrorist handlers based in Afghanistan. This statement by the Northern Alliance supports Pakistan’s stand towards the growing terrorist activity emanating from Afghan soil under the umbrella of the Taliban government.

TERROR CONFEDERATES & INDIAN ROLE

• The terrorists had clearly failed to make an international impact, and evoke sympathy for their purported cause.  Their effort to build up the anger within the Pakistani society, to foment some sort of uprising or public outcry which could be further exploited on the international forums and create plausible justification for at least diplomatic interventions, also could not take-off.  There was all the likelihood that the HIAs who had sponsored these attacks would try to manipulate and orchestrate a diversionary incident which would be either of a similar magnitude or even worse, so that this incident is pushed into the media-background and is saved from the debates which are contradicting the narratives of the terrorists.  This occurred in form of TTP’s attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on night between 12-13-Mar-2025, as the nation was rivetted to developments related to the Jaffar Express hijack incident in Balochistan.
• Jandola Attack:           It did not come as a surprise when terrorists found out the hard way that Security Forces were all prepared and waiting for them, when on the night of 12-13-Mar-2025, the terrorists, suspected to be belonging to TTP or subordinate pseudo-group, tried to create a diversionary event by launching a coordinated attack on one of the check-posts In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Jandola.  This check post is located on the boundaries of former FR Tank and South Waziristan, that had been hot-spots for terrorism in the past.  The terrorists, using the tactics of trying to breach the parameter walls by ramming an explosive-laden vehicle in a hope to march-in their foot soldiers through.  However, they were effectively repelled by returning fire by the security forces, killing 10 x terrorists.  It may be recalled that this tactic has been in use since quite some time, but with poor results for the terrorists.  Only recently the terrorists had tried similar strategy when they attacked against Bannu Cantonment on 04-Mar-2025.  In case of Jandola attack, the Security forces were clearly on alert and were expecting a diversionary attack by the comrades of BLA to distract and engage the Security Forces, particularly the elite commando units, which played critical role during the Balochistan’s Jaffer Express related situation.  Both of these Jaffer Express and Jandola attacks are believed to be links of the same chain emanating from Indian sponsored terror.  However, the Jandola incident was well-resourced by TTP, who were also unable to achieve the objectives for the masters from eastern borders.
• Nushki Bombing:      In what was an apparent retaliation to the reported death of BLA commander Bashir Zeb Baloch, who is considered to be one of the masterminds of Jaffar Express hijack of 11-Mar-2025, a convoy of the Frontier Corps (FC) travelling on Nushki-Dalbandin highway, also known as N40, was attacked in the Nushki district on 15-Mar-2025, where five persons embraced martyrdom, including three FC personnel and two civilians.  According to reports, a VBIED laden with explosives was rammed into the min-bus, causing explosion, that also injured 30-FC personnel in the vicinity.  Another three terrorists who also tried to attack the convoy with IEDs, were neutralized by the security forces.  BLA claimed responsibility of this attack.  This incident follows an earlier IED attack on an Anti-Terrorist Force (ATF) vehicle in Quetta, martyring one policeman and injuring six others[17].
• Greater Balochistan Narrative:    Basically, the idea of Greater Balochistan flows from the pre-partition times when the Balochistan area was divided ruthlessly by the British and was also impacted by the drawings of various territorial bordering lines without consideration to the will of the people.  Subsequently, the narrative of Greater Balochistan has been used by used for respective designs during the phase of Cold War, to gain control over the strategic and the mineral resources in the area.  With Gwadar offering the ideal deep-water anchorage and harbouring that offers most-direct route to Africa and to South East Asia, bypassing the choke-point of Strait of Hurmuz, Balochistan has once again become the most-sought after Jewel in the Crown for several powers, including India. 
• Objectives of Terrorists:     The foremost objective of the terrorists in sync with the planning and desires of their masters and their confederates, is to prepare and develop a territorial foothold in The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, being a Muslim country, from where the terrorists could attain status of State Actors, and carry out their further expansions in the region and offer a strategic forward line to their masters.  While the terrorists themselves could squander the resources for themselves, considering them as Spoils of War.  This is no different than the concept or ideology that had been put forward by Ayman al-Zawahiri[18] in which he had inculcated the idea in mind of each and every terrorist, emphasising that to have a success for their so-called Jihad it is necessary to secure a territory which is for themselves and under their sovereign control.  In the late evening (21:48 Hrs local) on 31-Jul-2022, Ayman Al Zawahiri was targeted bytwo Hellfire Missiles fired by a USA drone when he was hiding in a triple storied residential building in Sherpur area of Kabul[19], which was result of an alleged sell-out.  This was the ideology on which the ISIL had captured swaths of oil-rich territories from which it had bartered the looted oil for fortunes for themselves, while enslaved the locals.  Now it is the remnants of Al-Qaida, ISIS-K, ETIM, TTP and BLA, who all are apparently competing to fulfil this dream and looking avariciously towards Pakistan, though in vain. 
• Same is the strategy being pursued by TTP, who is waging war through terrorist means against Pakistan.  Thus, it is the first-tier common strategic interest of the confederate of the terrorists and their masters to weaken Pakistan to an extent that they take hold of swaths of territory, preferably in the resource-rich Balochistan, with an access to the deep warm waters.  After developing favourable situation, the international pressures could be evoked by the alliances, to God forbid, force Pakistan and its military to surrender to their policies and abide by all the sanctions and restrictions imposed on it. 
• It is in this context that the terrorists have been mobilized as tools of the Hybrid Warfare to weaken and prepare suitable grounds for formal foreign interventions, through diplomatic, political, and even military means, either in name of peacekeeping or in name of securing various strategic assets.  The Great Game at this level becomes quite obvious.
• With the inauguration of the Gwadar airport and its operationalization, the dreams and hopes of the terrorists have been dashed and they are desperate to cause a major disruption when the geostrategic balances are tilting due to USA’s realignments of its global strategies.  In a situation where Afghanistan is rapidly returning back into the focus as an incubator of international terrorism, the desperation and exasperation of the terrorists and their handlers is understandable.  Possibility of these terrorists group considering migration from Afghanistan, like parasites, who abandon their victim after completely bleeding it-out, to their former hide-outs in Tribal Districts or resource-rich Balochistan cannot be ruled-out. 
• The BLA terrorists and its masters had intended to stretch this drama as long as possible, so as to get maximum propaganda-mileage in the international media, and also dominate their brethren terrorist audience, to enhance their nuisance value, and convert it into a recruitment-campaign locally and externally.  The shockwaves of this incident would definitely go into Iran, where the BLA with its other face of Jaish al-Adl, is operating under the same mega-charter of anti-Pakistan, anti-Iran and anti-China agenda, deeply embedded into the theories of Greater Balochistan. 
• BLA and associates are not motivated by nationalistic interest but are driven by pure greed and copycat-avaricious intent towards the mineral resources and mentoring by HIAs, have teamed up with syndicates of trans-border criminals and other terrorist groups.  This time, they aim not only to capture the Marble Trade and its quarrying, but it goes beyond.  The BLA and its masters are dreaming of seizing those territories that are blessed with deposits of Rare Earth Elements (REEs).  If there was any doubt amongst the mind of any segment of society or critics that the BLA is the bearer of a political agenda and is in any way trying to struggle to achieve its goals, such concepts should fall shattered as the BLA has several times indiscriminately targeted innocent civilians, women and children through its terrorist attacks, with the most glaring one being hijacking of Jaffar Express.  The mercenary nature of BLA is completely exposed by the abandoning their juniors and fleeing from the combat zone on 11-Mar-2025, as they realized that the hijacking attempt is backfiring.    
• Indian Role and 5GW Blitz:              The BLA had succeeded in pulling off a sensational, but heinous incident by making a terrorist strike on a train-in-motion, and thereafter briefly capturing 440-unarmed passengers, that included a large number of women and children.  The attempt to target public and mass transport is not a new tactics, and has been tried in several parts of the world at different times.  The tactics includes targeting or overpowering Aircraft, Vessels, Buses, trains etc.  Sometimes described as Hijacking, this terrorist activity may include several distinct subordinate parts of the activity by the terrorists, subject to their objectives.  Besides being a terrorist act that offers instant publicity catapulting the terrorists in the global media head-lines, that can be further leveraged for attaining superiority amongst competing terrorist groups, attracting potential recruits, but most of all, causing panic and uncertainty amongst the target public.  It is often intended by the terrorists to confuse and agitate the public by ensuring a managed ambiguity, so that the public may resist to respective state organs, and thus weaken State’s resolve to fight.  This in strategic terms can be described as Fifth Generation Warfare (5GW).  While seizure of the intended target is one aspect of the operation, the other is to handle the hostages.  The hostage-aspect or Hostage-Situation may entail lengthy and torturous hostage-negotiations, which are an ordeal for the victims and their families.  Usually, trained terrorists are assigned in overseeing the handling of the hostages in captivity, while the negotiations are conducted by other teams, fortified in safe havens, across-borders.  If you recall, way back on 20-Feb-1994, a bus was hijacked from Peshawar with the school-children on board and was commandeered to Islamabad, which ended with the hostages safely rescued and the hijackers shot-dead.
•  It is evident that the terrorists have already unleashed a well organised propaganda or 5GW campaign, with an intent for not only to elevate its position amongst other fellow terrorist groups, and encourage them to join the BLA, but also to throw-open its doors for fresh recruits, and evince more favours from its cross-border masters. 
• The Indian media was conspicuous by its minute-to-minute provision of details which were well contributed with hearsay and a well organised narrative building campaign.  According to several media reports, the site where the Jaffar Express was hijacked was a Dead Zone for the radio signals, the only means of the media receiving uptodate streaming from the crisis-zone would be with support of satellite-based communications or from the Harris Radio Systems.  As we talk about the Dead Zone, some analysts believe that the persisting preferred refuge of terrorists in the Parachinar area is also driven by the fact that it is a Dead Zone, where tracking systems and targeting beacons become erroneous.  However, using combination of Walkie-Talkies and Harris Engineering Falcon 3 radios, can bridge this dead-zone gap.
• Indian media had been spreading fake news, claiming that the BLA has succeeded in seizing 182-hostages, in clear effort to function as BLA’s mouthpiece, that confirmed its role as BLA’s facilitator.  The Indian media claimed that the responsibility of the attack was claimed by BLA who said that their so-called Majeed Brigade, Fateh Squad, Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS), and Zirab Units have jointly conducted this operation.  An impression is being created by inflated numbers of terrorists conducting the attack, in an effort to suggest that it is a popular uprising, and tactfully instigating other civilians to come out in support of BLA on one hand, and on the other try to impress that the Pakistan’s Security Forces have failed to detect the movement of such a large number of terrorists, aiming to hijack a frequently targeted train.  By widely propagating the various ultimatums, and threats, ostensibly by BLA, the Indian media amplified and sensationalized such threats, thus trying to undermine the morale of the public and tried in vain to mobilize public opinion against any rescue operation[20].  
• Indian media also tried to, in a systematic manner, factor-in the various deaths of the so-called Baloch dissidents in other countries.  Incidentally, these incidents had been thoroughly investigated by the host countries and did not find any link to Pakistan or its agencies.  We need to see these unfortunate deaths in background of the assassination-spree by Indian intelligence services in foreign countries.   Possibility of Indian involvement in silencing those Baloch persons, who perhaps had refused to tow line of the Indian intelligence sleuths or were likely to rebel against Indian influence over the pseudo-Baloch movements abroad, or become double agents, were eliminated systematically. 
• The Indian media has also tried to bring in the debate Pakistan’s relations with USA, alleging that the Americans were using the Shamsi Air Base, which has no relevance to the current issue.  Indian media, cunningly, was trying to implicate and drag-in American and the Iranian governments into this issue, trying to suggest that Pakistan has sold out the interests of Baloch people, and is providing USA a free access in Balochistan, where-from USA would be conducting hostilities against Iran.
• Separately, the social media accounts connected to India-based figures were spreading around unverified press releases, ostensibly being issued by the BLA, mostly picked-up from the yellow-journalism outlets.  Immediately after the incident, social media was flooded with a BLA hand-out, that was given global publicity by Indian media, in which, ostensibly BLA had placed the demand of “unconditional release of Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and national resistance activists”[21], all demands of release were unspecified, and pertained to unidentified and unknown persons.  The demands which were ostensibly put forward by the BLA, were right from the outset clear and understood that such demands could never be met since they were neither defined nor were focused on particular individuals, persons, etc.  This was a typical exercise of Passive Resistance, favourite tactics used to intimidate adversaries in cloak-and-dagger game, and is used by terrorists to gain time and to prolong the drama.  In somewhat similar situation on 02-Feb-2009, when UNHCR Balochistan Chief was abducted by group claiming to be BLUF, the abductors had thrown a list of thousands of persons alleged to have been forcefully made to disappear.  A thorough ground check of the some 6,000-plus names revealed that the list was phony and consisted of concocted data of non-existent persons. By putting forward unrealistic demands that included release of unspecified, unidentified persons, the BLA masters had deliberately issued death-warrants against all those terrorists who were sent to carry out the Jaffar Express Hijacking operation.  There are also rumours that the BLA terrorists left-behind to control the hijacked train had been snatching valuables from the passengers, besides demanding ransom money and to be provided a safe passage into a neighbouring country.  But for Pakistan’s state, the option of any negotiations was no option, thus leaving BLA completely baffled, and confused, further wrecking their plans to garner global support and escalate their terrorism. 
• Pseudo-Experts:       Seeing the developments and finding the terrorists on slippery ground, the next salvo of the Fifth Generation Warfare became conspicuous when suddenly pseudo-strategists and analysts from across the borders began to advise that Pakistan army should negotiate with the terrorists to bring an end to the sufferings and casualties.  Such elements had become the spokespersons of the BLA.  Swiftly scuttling down to secondary stages of the 5GW battle engineered through the Jaffar Express Hijack, the Indian media began bringing forward pseudo-analysts and experts.  These pseudo experts were very cunningly trying to instigate the public and give them a cue to carry out further actions promising them a demonstration and public support outside Pakistan as well using the cover of overseas nationals and expatriates while operating securely from their safe havens.  The not-so-complicated jigsaw pieces began falling in place when the Indian media started carrying the calls for participating in a global demonstration being organized against the Pakistan government by the so-called Baloch nationalists, ostensibly on 28-Mar-2025[22].
• Online Brigading:     As the dust settles down and the media is engaging into a secondary battle of hurling allegations and counter-allegations, it is coming to surface that a number of clips and photographs circulated on the media, by various interest groups was in fact massive anti-Pakistan Online Brigading spree.  The video ostensibly belonging to 18-Jan-2022 incident had been strutted as that of 11-Mar-2025.  Other similar deliberately subversive clips spun into significant circulation to cause more confusion and to be used as a potent weapon in the Fifth Generation Warfare (5GW), mostly by the Indians and the sponsors of BLA.  One such fake-clip included Pakistan Army helicopter firing at the people, which was subsequently proven false as being a clip doctored after stealing from coverage of some incident of 07-Nov-2017.  Similarly, highly toxic and agitative fake statements were attributed to various leaders, aimed to cause unrest and to instigate the Pakistani public to come out on the street in support of BLA or against the government. Likewise, in another propaganda clip inserted into the social media, purporting to be live scenes from the Jaffar Express incident of 11-Mar-2025, were pictures of a train, set on fire by the terrorists, with background voices in Punjabi, cunningly launched in support of the baseless report of BLA terrorists setting the train on fire in Indian news media’s online publications[23].  Another rumour supported by various visuals was maliciously spread on social media, alleging that Pakistan army had recklessly killed a large number of hostages or a large number of its own troops as it was conducting indiscriminate attacks using helicopters and drones.  This was floated to support online Media reports about Pakistan using drones and helicopters, and was aimed to create the highly subversive impression that Pakistan military has no regards for the human lives in Balochistan.   This was proven fake by the news-hunters.  Various messages, from Indian media outlets, were being circulated as being announcements by BLA, placing highly agitative demands, such as demand for withdrawal of Chinese and Army from Balochistan, etc., that proved to be completely concocted by the media houses, and being disseminated under a broad anti-Pakistan agenda.  Such propaganda was clearly aimed to bolster the BLA’s morale, demoralize the public, particularly the families of the hostages, while trying to internationalise the issue, which clearly in such plans, is followed by advises and statements from a similar network of phony or crony pseudo-intellectuals.  To offset the exposure through several Fact Checks, they were hurriedly mirrored by Indian news media outlets in order to absolve themselves from any culpability or any responsibility of being a part of this game[24].
• Advance Contents:   The speed with which the clips were created and circulated on the social media are harbingers to prior preparations that had been made by the HIAs under the umbrella of this Fifth Generation Warfare (5GW) assault in sync with BLA’s ground assault on Jaffar Express.  It was clear that the hostile intelligence agencies who had masterminded planning of such an incident, had kept customised contents ready in advance to be launched through the propaganda blitzkrieg as soon as a signal was broadcasted by their tentacles.
• Domestic Media:       It was unfortunate and indeed not a good feeling to see some of the domestic news channels, who in their zealousness to capture audience, had missed the fact that the contents that were being delivered, were supportive of the narrative by the terrorists.  Their unsubstantiated reporting without authentic sources was likely to add uncertainty and anxiety amongst the family members of all those who were on Jaffar Express or in the vicinity of the incident.  There were reports which were further accentuated by the Indian media, adding to the pessimism being precipitated.  For the families of the passengers who were on board, such a vague information could wreak emotional havoc, which further substantiates our view that the Indian media, hand in hand with the BLA, were trying to instigate the families of the victims to carry out some sort of protest or a scene, so that it could further provide fuel for the subversive campaigns. 

AN ACT OF WAR AMIDST HYBRID WARFARE

• An Act of War:             This pre-mediated attack that could have had apocalyptic consequences for innocent civilians and non-combatants, was designed to be considered as an Act of War.  Was it that the attack was intended to provoke Pakistan into a knee-jerk response disproportionately against any of the neighbours, through surgical-strikes etc.?  Was it the reason that the communications were being relayed through Afghanistan?  Was it that India and BLA wanted to trigger some sort of conflict with Afghanistan, as some elements in Afghanistan had already created circumstances at Torkham to close the border crossings, from where the Afghan Refugees were to be returning back this month?  Afterall, Pakistan is having tense relations with Afghanistan, since Afghanistan is globally being criticised for harbouring terrorists including BLA and TTP, and there are border provocations at Torkham Border Crossing, which remains closed for 25-days, with all trade from this crossing point halted, and intermittent incidents of cross-firing continuing.  Pakistan’s foreign office spokesperson has squarely alleged that the BLA terrorists involved in the Jaffar Express incident were in direct communication with Afghan-based planners throughout.  This report is based on the technical intelligence obtained during the operation by our respective intelligence arms of the state[25].  He had reiterated that TTP remains the stumbling block in developing wrinkle-free relations with Afghanistan.  In such circumstances, the whole Jaffar Express Hijack operation by HIAs could possibly be a well calculated move to push Pakistan in entering into an unwanted conflict with its Western neighbours.  Similarly, the emerging situation in Middle East, where USA is using its military muscle against the Houthis, as Iran is bracing up for possible onslaught, diplomatic, or Hybrid, such terrorist activity in Pakistan, could also be a part of the larger strategy to destabilize the borders between Iran and Pakistan in this context.
• Hybrid Warfare:       Not forgetting that we are confronted with the Hybrid Warfare and what we see in forms of the various terrorist groups engaged in carrying out very well-planned and coordinated attacks is just the tip of several icebergs which are being steered and operated by a much larger enemy. And behind these terrorist groups, inter-area, TTP, BLA, and ISIS-K stands their stockholders, those, beginning with India, who literally has intelligence and security alliance with Israel, behind who stands the big brother, and all these have converging interests in several areas in the region.  With the leading technologies, situations can be simulated well in advance, and roles allocated, just like it is done during military war-games or simulated exercises.  Only here the environment is of Hybrid-Warfare, and intelligence or 5GW roles are distributed with customised tasks meeting respective objectives. 
• Within the Hybrid Warfare, the participants are dexterously and calculatedly making their moves in various faculties using the shield of Plausible Denials while chasing their objectives.  If we try to calculate or gauge the potential capacity of any of these groups or their subordinate pseudo-groups, we should keep in mind that they are just a ‘little brother’ who is being sent out to carry out a provocation by the big brothers.
• The larger strategic planning is coming from the major members of the strategic alliances who are poised against China, Russia, Iran, and Pakistan being a reliable friend of China.  It is the common view of this alliance that by defanging Pakistan, they would not only have a free run from the Central Asian Republics, Capsian Basin, Darakhshan, Gorno Darakhshan, through the humbled-down Afghanistan, down to the Mekran coast, more specifically, Gwadar, bypassing Iran.  As the Rare Earth Elements (REE) take precedence over Oil and Gas, the importance to implement the thought-out strategic template of this alliance has gained more urgency.  We must not underestimate the rising demand for the REEs in wake of the upcoming Fifth Industrial Revolution, which has already started emerging on the drawing boards of the most advanced industrial states, and is set to send the Third and Fourth Industrial Revolution as into the repository of history. 
• Pakistan’s Security Forces have entered into a phase where customized responses are required for each and every situation which spreads its tentacles in all faculties of the governance.  The situation demands that we as a nation stand solidly with our Security Forces, so that they can undertake the challenge of this Hybrid-Warfare more effectively.
• The military spokesman from the ISPR had reiterated that Pakistani Armed Forces are deeply engaged in counter-terrorism operations, since last decades, and currently, they are conducting an average of 160-Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) on a daily basis in different parts of the country.  This, when analysed, simply points towards the enormity of the Hybrid Warfare on one hand, and on the developed ability of Pakistan’s Armed Forces to pre-empt and repel these attacks, on the other.  The Armed Forces are providing a 24/7 protective shield to the nation, for which they deserve all the support and appreciation. 
• As we firmly believe that neither this confrontation with the BLA is the last battle nor was the first one.  In this maze of Hybrid-Warfare, like a mortal combat, we would be moving from one challenge to another for which there is need for increased national unity and rapid advancement through the digital age.  To retrieve its sagging reputation amongst its fellow confederate terrorist groups, and to adjust their plans for achieving their objectives, the masters for the BLA would increase provision of highly real-time intelligence and resources to increase the attacks, in order to meet their own strategic-time lines.  We must not underestimate the cunning and the strategies of the masters of BLA who are themselves part of a confederate which is having its own objectives, strategic objectives about the region. 
• A distinct relationship between the rise in terrorist activities was observed in sync with opening of Pak-Iran border crossing points, and also improvements in existing trade and commerce relations with Iran.  Ostensibly, with Iran having a good bonding with China and Russia, Pakistan’s improved relations were at a tangent to the interests of those who were Iran’s adversaries.
• The fact that Pakistani armed forces, at a great cost of sacrificing their own people in the conflict, had managed to wipe off the terrorists and without falling in the trap of negotiations, proves two important factors; that the nation continues to stand with the Armed Forces, and second, the terrorists, despite their effort, lack in the genuine public support and are recognized as mere mercenaries; we must strive to further improve the latter factor.

LEFT BEHIND AMERICAN WEAPONS IN AFGHANISTAN

• Mach Attack (03-04-Apr-2024):   With recent re-arming of the terrorists by more modern communication equipment, advanced weaponry, and other devices like Night Vision Devices (NVDs), laser aiming rifle mounted telescopes etc., ostensibly from the stockpiles of Left Behind Weapons by USA Forces in Afghanistan, there are evidences that these weapons have found their way in hands of terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan.  These terrorist groups including BLA, TTP and ISIS-K, have significantly improved their lethality with the fire-power and capacity to conduct coordinated attacks in Pakistan and perhaps in other neighbouring countries by using these weapons.  The terrorist attacks on the communication systems since last many years have been increasing proportionately.  One such early demonstration was visible when a similar attack was frustrated by the security forces on 03-Apr-2024, when the terrorists had tried to seize control of Mach Railway Station, and Pinjra Pul (Bridge), that formed a choke-point on NH-65, with an intention to take hostages from the plying buses etc.  It was our assessment at that time, that this operation was a rehearsal of a much more ambitious and larger attack.  Also, it was established that Pakistan’s security services are quite experienced in not only tackling one single such incident but can simultaneously tackle several such attacks engineered by the Hostile Intelligence Agencies (HIAs).  Pakistan’s Security Forces have acquired proficiency in clearing-off and eradicating terrorists through its operations in North Waziristan and Malakand.
• There have been several other incidents, where these weapons, ostensibly from the stocks of Left Behind Weapons were intercepted while on way for terrorist activities, or were retrieved from terrorists in various IBOs.  Influx of these weapons in hands of terrorists and weapon smugglers were widely reported in western media as well.  Carbine Rifles M4A1, Glocks, Barettas, etc., were reported as being intercepts at Pak-Afghan borders by Pakistan Customs in early Aug-2021[26].  Another consignment was intercepted on 23-Apr-2022 by the Customs at Torkham border, by Pakistan Customs, recovering M-4 and other rifles[27].  Very next day on 24-Apr-2022, Pakistan Customs seized several USA and Turkey made pistols and large quantities of ammunition from secret compartments of a truck, carrying coal from Afghanistan[28].  Yet again, another consignment of 16 x USA made rifles, abundant ammunitions of various types, concealed in pomegranates, were intercepted by Pakistan’s Custom staff at Pak-Afghan border crossing on 07-Dec-2022[29].  On 13-Dec-2023, a large consignment of Left Behind Arms were seized by Pakistan Customs at Torkham border crossing, that included M4 high-powered assault rifles, NVDs, Laser Aiming Devices, and huge quantity of ammunition, that was concealed in onions from Afghanistan[30].  More recently, on 21-Apr-2024, Pakistan Customs seized US Made M-16 rifles, Beretta pistols, special ops pistol, thousands of rounds, AK-47 rifles and thousands of ammunitions, knocked down AK-47s, and thousands of rounds for Glock and 9mm pistols, concealed among coal and soap-stone consignments[31].  Another large consignment of US made weapons, ostensibly intended to carry out attacks on the eve of SCO Conference were intercepted at Torkham border on 11-Oct-2024.  The seized weapons included M4-assault rifles, magazines, pistols, NVDs and other equipment as well as large quantities of ammunition[32].  These weapons were concealed under the coal consignment.  Besides these few incidents from numerous such reports, and recovery of arms and ammunition by the Pakistan Security Forces from the terrorists and their caches, reports of proliferation of these USA made weapons can be found in Afghan Peace Watch, situation update of Jul-2023[33].  The SIGAR reports, placed before the Congress of USA identifies and confirms that several former ANDSF and Afghan civilians had access to a large number of weapons including rifles and such pieces of equipment which can be carried on a person which they have swiftly sold to local black marketeers, wherefrom it was collected at clandestine collection points for further bulk disposal, and is many cases have concealed weapons for self-use as well.  These details have been placed on record before the American Congress by SIGAR and other relevant offices.
• In a recent set of stills, probably screen-grabbed from video, photographs of a number of dead terrorists offer plenty of evidence of availability of US made weapons and equipment to the BLA.  The visuals highlight M16 / A4 Machine Gun, AK-47, gun, walkie-talkies, though the labels cannot be easily seen, AK-47s fitted with grenade launchers, and RPG rocket launchers. Some of these weapons are the types have been proliferated from the American stockpiles left behind in Afghanistan.  USA President has also taken a serious view of stockpiles of weapons left-behind in Afghanistan, which according to several sources are being sold in black-market and provided to terrorists by the Taliban[34].  Pakistan, since quite some time, has been protesting against the supply of these weapons to the terrorists, including BLA and TTP by the Taliban government, who only recently claimed that these weapons and equipment were spoils of war[35], they have secured each and every weapon[36].
• The BLA was also using all other support equipment which was issued to the ANDSF by the American Armed Forces, whose picture is displayed.  The terrorists were equipped with tactical haversacks known Tactical Camouflage Backpacks, which were USA Military supply items and were also left back in Afghanistan.  These have been found in abundance on sale at roadside black market stalls in Afghanistan in several border areas.  The BLA terrorists used these haversacks to carry water bottles and dry-rations for a longer besieged environment. Some of these haversacks or Tactical Camouflage Backpacks were recovered from the slain terrorists at the scene of Jaffar Express Hijack.
• There are plenty of evidences that BLA is being supported, financed, and provisioned by Afghanistan and not only safe havens are being provided, but also training camps have been provided for BLA recruits.  Robust arms supply lines have been established for BLA, with overall supervision of cover-officials belonging to Indian secret services based in Chabahar, and Zahedan in Iran, Farkhor in Tajikistan, and all-across Afghanistan.  Not only weapons are being provided by discreet channels in Afghanistan, but trained ex-ANDSF and Afghan Baloch from Bahramchah, have been recruited.  Most of the former ANDSF members are those who had disappeared when Kabul fell to Taliban in Aug-2021, and due persecution by Taliban, and rising unemployment are returning and joining terrorist groups.  The ANDSF, had largely been trained in India for security and intelligence training, and had undergone intense indoctrination against Pakistan, while the Indian instructors, skilfully cultivated their loyalties towards Indian proxies in Afghanistan. A large number of the ANDSF personnel had not only deserted, but had taken away weapons worth billions of dollars, including communication-systems, military vehicles, and even had flown away helicopters as they fled advancing Taliban before 21-Aug-2021.
• Left Behind Weapons & Communication Systems:        There have been irrefutable evidences of these American arms and equipment are being used in terrorism not only against the security forces of Pakistan but largely against the innocent civilian’s majority of whom are women and children.  At several occasions some of these captured weapons have been displayed before the media by Pakistan.  The official spokesperson of Pakistan’s military has also confirmed that the terrorist groups were in communication with their handlers sitting in Afghanistan and were getting instructions from there.  Nearly each terrorist neutralized had a walkie-talkie, giving clues of a well-established network and an OP post in vicinity of the scene, which was coordinating the various cells of BLA terrorists and its handlers.  The normal Walkie-Talkies, operate on UHF, or higher frequencies, and would need boosters enroute to communicate with their handlers located at a distance or at safe havens across borders.  As reported, this handicap was overcome by use of satellite-phones, which were being used, perhaps as an alternate, by the local operation commanders of the terrorists to remain in touch with their handlers in Afghanistan.  The other method that is being used by BLA, TTP and ISIS-K is use of the Harris Engineering Falcon 3 Radio, that relies on satellite network and can be patched with mobile services and Walkie Talkies.  Thousands of these radios were left in Afghanistan, and were available in the black markets for $3,500 each[37].  According to the confirmed reports submitted by various semi-governmental organizations from USA, more than 160,000 radios and communication equipment and more than 16,000-night vision goggles had been provided to the ANDSF, which disappeared in the thin air as the US Armed forces left Afghanistan in 2021. A large number of R/T sets, which are basically Tactical Communication Systems were seized by various terrorist groups and Taliban while occupying Afghanistan.  These systems are considered to be secure and can be looped to work with other communication equipment capable of transferring data, offer GPS, graphic transmissions, and receptions while using dedicated cellular network satellite communication.  This communication equipment which is being used by these terrorists has American technologies, that are protected against interception.  However, understandably, this technology is also shared with Israel; and if it is available to Israel, it is available to India.  With access to such technologies, there is no doubt that India and its allies are minutely monitoring all communications of these devices in use by BLA, through which they are maintaining a firm control upon BLA and using the intelligence gleaned from them, and other terrorist groups, as a prized strategic commodity.  More importantly, with access to penetrate these communication networks, they have a real-time intelligence available on the activity of each and every individual in BLA, TTP, ISIS-K using these devices.
• These Harris Engineering Falcon 3 radios were reported being sold abundantly in the Afghan black market, further connecting the Taliban, the TTP, the BLA, their masters, through effective arms and ammunition supply lines.  Proliferation of these weapons and equipment have found their way also in Iran.  The BLA, which no doubt is using the Bahramcha Triangle at Pak-Iran-Afghanistan tri-border area for their clandestine entry and exit between these three countries, scuttle into Pakistan as BLA and into Iran as Jaish-al Adl, while equipped with the expensive night vision devices, and with the strong communication system being handled by specialists within the small groups which the BLA has already admitted being part and parcel of their organisation.  There is strong possibility of regular trained members of HIAs leading these segments for specific high value attacks. 
• Outstanding Response by Pakistan:          It had taken considerable time for the Israeli forces to put together their forces and proceed on to the Entebbe operation on 3-Jul-1976, to rescue passengers of an aircraft hijacked on 27-Jun-1976. However, in a matter of operational capabilities and comparison, it took only a few hours for the Pakistani military to adapt and respond to the threat or hostage rescue.
• As the stories will unfold, we will find that the Pakistani security forces had used very fine tactics and innovated to adjust according to the threat in order to minimize any casualties of the innocent hostages or the security forces. The fact that none of the passengers and witnesses has so far reported any incident of suicide bomber detonating himself supports the official version which speaks of neutralizing such suicide bombing characters. It would not come as a surprise that the suicide bombers had boarded the train from the Quetta or the other stations enroute, while some of their colleagues had brought the necessary explosives or cached them, which were used by them to arm themselves, but they could not get an opportunity to carry out the explosion.

SUGGESTIONS

• Digitalization:             There is a need to swiftly and rapidly transit towards digitization, particularly with an aim to enhance and escalate the security and safety sector in Pakistan, while also as a by-product, using these technologies to sustain Pakistan’s development initiative, already showing signs of success.
• Railway Infrastructure Security Surveillance System:              It may augur well that it may be made a national policy to improve and standardize the surveillance of the railway tracks all over the country, where the surveyors are provided with modern gadgetry and communication system to ensure their regular observation.  Proper control-rooms equipped with appropriate supervisory system, perhaps also incorporating smaller drones and infusing the Guard Tour System (GTS) tools, could offer comprehensive security coverage of these wide-spread vulnerable structures.  The Railway Stations, and Intercity Bus Stations, be declared as sensitive or restricted areas for purposes of implementing security related protocols, while the security levels be raised equal to those of the Airports.  SOPs may be improved and the radio communication systems between the train and their respective control rooms should be enhanced and made foolproof with standby arrangements available in different locations within the train system.   Trains and buses be fitted with CCTV with video streaming to the remote-control rooms.  Use of AI supported Facial Recognition systems be introduced, and may be linked to secure national data-base, as our very own Metadata repository.  On the national basis, the Pakistan railway system and other, particularly intercity transport systems, should be by law required to maintain a proper biometric verified system for all the persons entering into the areas of their terminals, boarding the transports, and registering their arrivals by touching their tickets or biometrics.  Stringent standards be set for these requirements and these systems, while the transport systems which are below those standards should be categorised and should be displayed on the bus, train or vehicles, so that it may be left to the choice of the public to use that service or otherwise.  The Railway communication system should also be developed and be secured against vandalism, while being available to the railway operational staff for efficient delivery of their services.  All entry exits, and boarding / off-boarding should be duly authenticated by biometrics with the available facilities from NADRA, through such a provision which is technologically and perhaps economically feasible.
• Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS):                Systems like the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS), which has been incorporated in United Kingdom and perhaps in several other Western countries, should be implemented at the fastest pace under an independent Authority, which should also have an Ombudsman to mitigate any complaints, while this DBS may also be required to ensure that the information released is kept secure and complies to the personal data security regulations as well as the entities that receive it.  Perhaps this will require the need to specify or categorise the various crimes or offences, which should be categorised and should be assigned periods after which they would be deemed spent, and would be purged from the DBS record provided to the individuals or the applicants.  Such a procedure would help screening all the employees right at the initial stages, who, subject to the requirements of respective employers, may be further investigated if so needed, and curb the tendency of collaborating with terrorists or assisting them to pull inside-jobs.
• Digitizing Travel Ticketing:             The bookings all over the country for any mode of transport, air, sea, rail or road by transport services or public services should be digitized and subjected to mandatory biometric verifications at various stages and all the bookings and ticketing should be compulsorily connected to this process.  On one hand such a process would reduce the ghost passengers and on the other hand it will discourage the illicit elements from creating a mischief on any of these utilities for fear of getting identified either beforehand or subsequently. Likewise at all the main terminals etc., wherever CCTVs are available, may be connected and backed up at least at the central levels to carry out appropriate facial recognitions and crisis management.  While the CCTVs may also be used for identifying, monitoring or tracking the movement of people on more sensitive areas such as railway stations, the bus stations, lounges etc. they may additionally be used to identify left behind or suspicious luggage etc. While it is understood that these are going to cost money but since all the requirements would be needed at places which are commercially operated, therefore the cost burden should be shared by the proprietors and perhaps the banks may be called to offer loans subject to their own due diligence and collateral procedures.  Those facilities which are unable to provide the said level of security should be categorised and should be publicised for the public to make their own choice to use those facilities or otherwise.  Necessary legislation would be must to implement it without the procedure being challenged, bent or mis-used.
• Mobile Biometrics Verification Devices:               Appropriately tagged and GPS supported Mobile Biometric Devices should be made available to the Security Forces and other officials at national level, so that instant verifications be possible.  These devices, may under necessary security protocols, be made available to all points where biometric verification is required. 
• PECA: It seems that the PECA laws were not in vain, as we have seen the horrific demonstration of use of social media at a moment when hundreds of people were taken hostages, and the social media was trading their plight for achieving their own nefarious ends, but there was also demonstration or some restraint from several quarters that abided by the law. Unfortunately, even well-balanced people were irresponsibly forwarding the propaganda material, inadvertently becoming propaganda carriers for the terrorists, and contributing towards publicising, supporting and advocating the nefarious narratives of the terrorists.  With the recent experiences, we must revisit the PECA regulations and should further tighten any loopholes which may have been left, and must keep the public-interest above the commercial interests of certain pressure groups.  It was a long-awaited reassurance to learn that the government will handle the subversive Social-Media statements the way it is handling the terrorists, which is a good statement and hopefully it will be followed in accordance to the PECA laws already enforced.  If need be, the PECA laws may be further tweaked to counter any possible repetition of such subversive behaviour by some domestic bodies or entities.
• Intelligence Sharing:             This situation also implies that Pakistan must further escalate its intelligence relations with other countries, including Iran and CARs, on emergent basis, and may use intelligence sharing as a common bonding counter-terrorism factor.  The intelligence sharing and the intelligence bartering has become a critical Hybrid and Fifth Generation Warfare tool which is being used by various intelligence agencies while conducting their strategic business across the globe.  Only recently, to discipline Ukraine and in retaliation to the spar which the Ukrainian president had with the American President on 28-Feb-2025 at Oval Office, USA had announced that it will cease providing intelligence to the Ukrainian government during a time when they were deeply entrenched in a war with Russia. On 05-Mar-2025, CIA director confirmed that they have ceased sharing the intelligence with Ukraine, besides also announced that all military aid was to be halted, including the one which was in transit[38]. It was only when Zelensky had to, through various means, regret upon his behaviour and come back to the negotiation table, ostensibly accepting American demands and terms for the agreement on the mineral resources that the critical intelligence was provided or was continued again[39].  Similarly, in case of the Israel engagement in Middle East and against Palestinians, intelligence sharing between USA and Israel has been phenomenal.  Likewise, by gaining supremacy and to a great extent monopoly over the intelligence, USA had expressed goodwill with Russia, paving and facilitating the way for future strategic dialogues. USA had informally shared the intelligence about an impending ISIS-K attack in Russia, which was grudgingly acknowledged as an informal tip-off by CIA regarding the 22-Mar-2024 Crocus City Hall attack.  Similarly, it is believed that Iran had also been alerted through informal sources about impending attack in Kerman of 03-Jan-2024[40].  We must continue to develop our friendly relations between our intelligence organisations and other such organisations at regional and international level.
• Physical Security:     There is a need to improve the overall arrangements of security particularly over the culverts, bridges and the tunnels which have frequently proven to be very secure hideouts. Even the MOAB or the mother of all bombs could not demolish and drive out the terrorists from Tora Bora.  So, we must also develop potential and experience for carrying out counter-terror operations where tunnels and caves are used as terror-bases and keep specialized units for this purpose.
• Replacing Legacy Equipment:        Considering the availability of the Night Vision Devices (NVDs), precise aiming telescopes, long range rifles or sniper rifles, to the terrorists, tend to give them an edge over the normal security details assigned on security duties during night-hours, and therefore, better technology-based equipment be provided to these personnel. 
• Reaching Out to Public:       There will also be an expectation of the public that the leadership reaches out to the family members of the hostages, and the whole nation should express solidarity with them, while visibly condemning the terrorists across the country.  As the nation stands solidly with the security forces, we would Inshallah be able to rescue our brethren, and also would defeat the terrorists.
• Need for Solidarity: While the government and the security forces are working flat-out to defuse this crisis, it is very important that the whole nation stands-fast with the people who have been taken hostage and with the security forces.  The terrorists need to be condemned by the whole nation.  We must also be mindful that this is neither the first time that Pakistan has faced such a major threat nor it would be the last.    
• Missing Persons:       The well-organized indoctrination campaign needs to be carried out to counter the effects of the 5GW unleashed particularly with Balochistan being main target. The issue of missing persons should be effectively and transparently addressed since we are of a firm view that except some genuine grievances, the issue has been politicized at the cost of those few aggrieved persons who have been deliberately used as a rallying point. We must highlight the demands of the terrorists and point out the failure of the terrorists in providing any tangible names or addresses of such persons who are in their view amongst the missing persons.
• Victims Platform & Stake-holding:            The political side or the government at the federal level may consider setting up a platform for those who have been victims of terrorism either in form of injuries, casualties or abduction or destruction to the property who should be sharing their experiences, stepping out for the other public and brethren to know about the plight and their grievances which have been inflicted by the terrorists for no fault of theirs. The government may also consider providing a transparent rehabilitation program for them, including giving priority in jobs for the able family members of victims of terrorism, and inducting them in the security forces at appropriate level, so that they enter the field with a rightful vengeance and should be able to assist the security forces.  Transparent and tangible FIRs should be drawn out on behalf of each and every victim, dead or alive, nominating the group, its leader and its known activists and perhaps its sponsors as the accused.  Should there be any occasion of arrest of the nominated terrorists, or if they are elimination, or the government decides to negotiate or grant amnesty, the victims or their heirs, by law, should be provided a rightful opportunity to claim compensation from the culprits.  A separate website under an NGO may be hosted which should include the names and the particulars of those wanted terrorists which the state so designates.
• Terror-Busters:         There may be appropriate focal points, managed by NGO or semi-government department, to receive reports about terrorism from citizens.  The state should guarantee confidentiality of the identity of such patriot citizen who shares valuable Counter-Terror information.  Such organizations are working effectively in the western world and are harvesting tremendous number of leads and information about potential terrorists, and thus are more emancipated in implementing pre-emptive measures.
• Summary Trials:       Temporary Summary Courts may be set up to deal with the cases of Terrorism in limited time.  The criteria for such trials must include trial of such persons who are arrested or have been involved in armed resistance or confrontation against the military, or are part of terrorist groups, etc. 
• Authorized Reps to Make Statements:    There is a need to ensure that only one representative is authorized to make the statements in such crisis situations from each and every department. Such persons must get clearance about the facts being released from Pakistan’s Ministry of Information, which should be duly backed by concerned organs of state. Such an action would prevent irresponsible statements, which add to the confusion and provide fuel to the adversaries who pour it on the ongoing fire of 5GW. 
• Countering Overseas:           There is a need for the overseas Pakistanis to mobilize themselves and carry out appropriate show of solidarity against BLA and its terrorist activities and demand from their host governments to take cognizance of the matter and declare these people as terrorists if they have already not done so.
• Considering the call given by, through the Indian media for a protest activity in the name of PLA and Balochistan by the Indian lobby, most likely in western countries, it is, it may augur well to counter that through counter demonstrations, peaceful demonstrations in support of the innocent people who have been threatened and who have been challenged by the terrorist groups including PLA and TTP.

EPLIOGUE

• It is public expectation that the masterminds and operators of this attack, and others, be dealt with at all cost using all the latest technologies and following international precedence established in this context.
• As the Jaffar Express Hijack is an episode of the Gray Zone Conflict, we must remain prepared to repel with atleast double the force, any subsequent terrorist attack(s) and should also strengthen our defences adequately, since the enemy is not only wily, but also crafty, who will leave no chance to deliver clandestine attack. 
• Keeping in view the earlier methodologies used by such terrorist groups, there is a possibility of occurrence of several other terrorist incidents perpetrated to cause diversion and divide the efforts of the security forces.   Such attacks are most likely to be carried out by other groups or their pseudo-groups, to show their solidarity and to pin-down the Security Forces of Pakistan on one hand, and on the other to demoralize the public due to the numerical increase in the attacks.  These attacks, with the readily available India-sponsored social media brigades and news outlets, would be drummed as incapacitation of the security forces, and urge the security forces to negotiate with the terrorists.    
• We should consider the Jaffar Express Hijack and Hostage Drama, as one of the final rehearsals before launching multiple such attacks from our western borders through their proxies, that would include the confederates from BLA, TTP and ISIS-K.  These groups, which have been mentored for decades by the Indian secret services, have been supplemented with more experienced and regular agents, as India inches towards morphing them into a formal, organized proxy.  These people have been provided the most modern equipment, including communications, transport and sabotage-related materials, in addition to the modern long-range, accurate lethal rifles with their aiming systems, through their well-cultivated Afghan cut-outs.  Also, India in collaboration with her allied HIAs has placed at the disposal of these terrorist groups, a continuous stream of real-time intelligence.  The terrorists have, with Indian patronage through former Afghan NDS and India’s own clandestine assets in Afghanistan, the BLA, TTP and other terrorist groups have been well supplied with former Indian regular-trained, ANDSF personnel, to lead and organise the proxy terrorist groups, who are backed-up with customised propaganda blitzkriegs.  The propaganda is escalated with highly advanced application of Artificial Intelligence and the deployment of phantom Social Media Brigades, centred in the IT hubs on Indian and other foreign soils.  We, therefore, as a nation, must remain vigilant and be prepared to take the bull-by-the-horns and repel their nefarious designs.
• We must not fall prey to the Intelligence Failure mantra, which is integral part of hostile narratives, propagated through various media channels and Social Media platforms.  We must trust our security forces, and If there were any short cummings on their operating procedures, the security Forces would have by now identified them and set-on to fix them, lest they are repeated. 
• Finally, we stand with the hostages, as our hearts go with them, and our sympathies are with their families, whom we should support while each and every one amongst us should try and put in his best in whatever capacity he can to ensure that the terrorist narratives are defeated at each step.
•           ***

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[1] “‘Intense’ firing at Quetta-Peshawar train with 500 on board; Balochistan govt says rescue teams dispatched”, by Abdullah Zehri, Imtiaz Ali, Sarah B. Haider, and, Arif Hayat, 11-Mar-2025, < https://www.dawn.com/news/1897237/intense-firing-at-quetta-peshawar-train-with-500-on-board-balochistan-govt-says-rescue-teams-dispatched>

[2] “Gunmen attack Jaffar Express in Balochistan; 500 passengers taken hostage”, by The Express Tribune, 11-Mar-2025, < https://tribuOn 12-Feb-2025, ne.com.pk/story/2533663/gunmen-attack-jaffer-express-in-balochistan-several-injured>

[3] “‘We fought until our bullets ran out’”, by The Express Tribune, 13-Mar-2025, < https://tribune.com.pk/story/2533990/we-fought-until-our-bullets-ran-out

[4] “Blast in Balochistan’s Bolan district kills one person, disrupts Karachi-Quetta train services”, by News Desk, The Express Tribune, 26-Aug-2024, < https://tribune.com.pk/story/2491068/blast-in-balochistans-bolan-district-kills-one-person-disrupts-karachi-quetta-train-services>

[5] “‘Bloodbath’: Railway station bombing in Quetta, Pakistan leaves 26 dead”, by Saadullah Akhter, Al Jazeera, 09-Nov-2024, < https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/9/bloodbath-railway-station-bombing-in-quetta-pakistan-leaves-26-dead>

[6] “London bombings of 2005”, published in Britannica.com; < https://www.britannica.com/event/London-bombings-of-2005>

[7] “29 March 2010: Moscow Metro Bombings”, Public Intelligence, https://info.publicintelligence.net/dhsmoscowbombingsnapshot.pdf

[8] “Egypt plane crash: Russia says jet was bombed in terror attack”, by Gwyn Topham and Matthew Weaver in London and Alec Luhn in Moscow, The Guardian, 17-Nov-2015, < https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/17/egypt-plane-crash-bomb-jet-russia-security-service>

[9] “Eleven killed in suspected suicide bombing on Russian metro train”, by Denis Pinchuk, Reuters, 04-Apr-2017, <https://www.reuters.com/article/world/eleven-killed-in-suspected-suicide-bombing-on-russian-metro-train-idUSKBN17519G/>

[10] “Arsonists attack French high-speed rail system hours before opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics”, by Thomas Adamson and Jeffrey Schaeffer, Associated Press, 26-Jul-2024, < https://apnews.com/article/france-trains-olympics-74c9727d33ac86bfc126f98e45cb874f>

[11] According to BLA propaganda material, Aslam Baloch, alias Aslam Achoo, who was self-styled General, was killed along with his comrades including Commanders Rahim Marri, Taj Muhammad Marri, Akhtar Shahwani, Babar Majeed and Sadiq Baloch.  The BLA sources claim that he was a protegee of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, and was an ardent member of his Haq Tawar forum in Quetta.  Aslam Achoo was also well connected with Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), through its leader Dr. Allah Nazar, who is also believed to have been a leader of Baloch Students Organisation /Azad, (BSO-A); both organisations proscribed by GoP on 08-Sep-2010 and 15-Mar-2013, respectively. 

[12] “Aslam Baloch’s killing: Implications for Balochistan Insurgency”, by  Fahad Nabeel, on 28-Dec-2018, < https://cscr.pk/explore/themes/defense-security/aslam-balochs-killing-implications-for-balochistan-insurgency/#:~:text=On%20Christmas%20Day%2C%20Aslam%20Baloch,the%20Afghan%20province%20of%20Kandahar.>

[13] “Deadly Pakistan train hijack: What happened, who was rescued, what’s next?”, by Abid Hussain, Al Jazeera, published on 11-Mar-2025, < https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/11/deadly-pakistan-train-hijack-what-happened-and-whats-next>;

[14] “Pakistan Train Hijack Live: BLA claim 182 held hostage; 80 passengers rescued”, by HT News Desk, 11-Mar-2025, < https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/pakistan-passenger-train-jaffar-express-bla-hijack-live-updates-balochistan-hostages-101741696345513.html>

[15] “Indian Chronicles: deep dive into a 15-year operation targeting the EU and UN to serve Indian interests”, by Gary Machado Alexandre Alaphilippe, Roman Adamczyk and Antoine Grégoire, for EU Disinfo Lab, 09-Dec-2020, https://www.disinfo.eu/publications/indian-chronicles-deep-dive-into-a-15-year-operation-targeting-the-eu-and-un-to-serve-indian-interests/

[16] “Taliban Harbouring Terror Groups, Causing Regional Instability, Says NRF”, The Afghanistan International, 13-Mar-2025, < https://www.afintl.com/en/202503130056>

[17] “3 personnel among 5 dead as FC convoy attacked in Balochistan’s Noshki: state media”, by Abdullah Zehri, published by Dawn.com on 16-Mar-2025, < https://www.dawn.com/news/1898259>; AND “Five martyred in attack on security forces convoy in Balochistan’s Nushki”, The Express Tribune, News Desk. 16-Mar-2025, < https://tribune.com.pk/story/2534568/five-killed-10-injured-in-blast-near-passenger-bus-in-nushki>

[18]

[19] Ayman al-Zawahiri: al-Qaida leader killed in US drone strike in Afghanistan, Joe Biden says”,  David Smith in Washington, Joanna Walters in New York, and Jason Burke, for The Guardian, published on 02-Aug-2022, < https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/01/us-strike-afghanistan-kills-al-qaida-leader-ayman-al-zawahiri>  

[20] “Behind train hijacking in Pakistan, history of Baloch insurgency and a spate of recent attacks”, by Rishika Singh, The Indian Express, 11-Mar-2025, < https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-global/pakistan-train-hijack-baloch-role-9881309/>

[21] “Deadly Pakistan train hijack: What happened, who was rescued, what’s next?”, by Abid Hussain, Al Jazeera, published on 11-Mar-2025, < https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/11/deadly-pakistan-train-hijack-what-happened-and-whats-next>;

[22] “Pakistan Train Hijack LIVE Updates: 190 hostages freed, 30 militants killed in Pakistan train siege”, The Times of India, 12-Mar-2025, 12:14 Hrs, IST, < https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-train-hijack-live-updates-balochistan-hostage-terrorist-attack-passenger-jaffar-express-security-personnel-killed/liveblog/118895990.cms>

[23] “Fact check: Viral video of train attack is old from Jan 2022, does not show Jaffar Express hijacking”, by iVerify (a project of CEJ and UNDP), published 12-Mar-2025,and carried by The Dawn, < https://www.dawn.com/news/1897432/fact-check-viral-video-of-train-attack-is-old-from-jan-2022-does-not-show-jaffar-express-hijacking>

[24] “PTI Fact Check: 3-year-old, unrelated video from Pakistan falsely shared as recent linking it to Jaffar Express hijack incident”, by Kaushiki Goel and Pratyush Ranjan, of Press Trust of India Fact Check, published on 13-Mar-2025, < https://www.ptinews.com/fact-detail/pti-fact-check-3-year-old-unrelated-video-from-pakistan-falsely-shared-as-recent-linking-it-to-jaffar-express-hijack-incident/2372227>

[25] “Calls related to Jaffar Express hijacking traced back to Afghanistan: FO”, by Abdullah Momand, The Dawn, published on 13-Mar-2025, < https://www.dawn.com/news/1897659>;

[26] “With the Taliban in control of NATO bases, arm smugglers in Pakistan’s borderlands hope business is back”, by Bel Trew, for the Independent, 28-Sep-2021, < https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/south-asia/pakistan-weapons-smugglers-border-afghanistan-b1928225.html>;

[27] “Bid to smuggle foreign-made arms foiled at Torkham border”, by Abuzar Afridi, The Express Tribune, 23-Apr-2022, < https://tribune.com.pk/story/2353928/bid-to-smuggle-foreign-made-arms-foiled-at-torkham-border>;

[28] “Customs foil another arms smuggling bid at Pak-Afghan border”, Abuzar Afridi, for The Express Tribune, published on 24-Apr-2022, < https://tribune.com.pk/story/2354079/customs-foil-another-arms-smuggling-bid-at-pak-afghan-border

[29] “Bid to smuggle weapons from Afghanistan foiled at Torkham border”, by Abuzar Afridi, The Express Tribune, 07-Dec-2022, < https://tribune.com.pk/story/2389610/bid-to-smuggle-weapons-from-afghanistan-foiled-at-torkham-border>

[30] “Large Batch of US-Made Weapons & Military Gear Seized at Pak-Afghan Border”, by Muhammad Sharif, for Sputnik News, published on 13-Dec-2023, < https://sputniknews.in/20231213/large-batch-of-us-made-weapons–military-gear-seized-at-pak-afghan-border-5820681.html>;

[31] “Bid to smuggle weapons foiled at Torkham border”, by Abuzar Afridi, The Express Tribune, 21-Apr-2024, < https://tribune.com.pk/story/2463425/bid-to-smuggle-weapons-foiled-at-torkham-border>

[32] “US Weapons Seized in Pakistan Raise Alarm Over Taliban Influence and Regional Stability”, by Arshad Mehmood, 14-Oct-2024, <https://themedialine.org/by-region/us-weapons-seized-in-pakistan-raise-alarm-over-taliban-influence-and-regional-stability/#:~:text=This%20smuggling%20of%20leftover%20US,threat%20to%20the%20region&apos;s%20stability.>;

[33] “Arms Smuggling Dynamics under Taliban Rule”, by Afghan Peace Watch, Jul-2023, published at https://smallarmssurvey.org/sites/default/files/resources/Situation%20Update-Smuggling-Dynamics-under-Taliban-Rule-Final.pdf;

[34] “Trump seeks return of US military equipment from Afghan Taliban”, by Ayaz Gul, VoA News, 20-Jan-2025, < https://www.voanews.com/a/trump-seeks-return-of-us-military-equipment-from-afghan-taliban-/7943249.html>

[35] “Weapons in Afghanistan: The Taliban’s Spoils of War”, by Tanya Mehra, Meryl Demuynk, and Matthew Wentworth, Policy Brief fated Feb-2022, by International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, https://icct.nl/publication/weapons-afghanistan-talibans-spoils-war; 

[36] “Islamic Emirate: Military Equipment ‘Seriously Protected’”, by Mohammad Bashir Soltani, Tolo News, 30-Jan-2025, < https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-192847>

[37] “Pakistani Armed Groups Obtain U.S. Weapons Left Behind In Afghanistan”, by Abubakar Siddique, RadioFree Europe Radio Liberty (RFERL), published on 29-Mar-2023, < https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-armed-groups-obtain-us-weapons-left-in-afghanistan/32340664.html>

[38] “US cuts off intelligence-sharing with Ukraine”, The Dawn, by Reuters and AFP, published 05-Mar-2025, < https://www.dawn.com/news/1895982>;

[39] “US has ‘just about’ lifted pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine, Trump tells media

Share”, by Abbey Fenbert, The Kyiv Independent, 10-Mar-2025, < https://kyivindependent.com/us-has-just-about-lifted-pause-on-intelligence-sharing-with-ukraine-trump-tells-media/>

[40] “Iran Ignored US Warnings of Impending ISIS Attack”, Iran International Newsroom, 25-Jan-2024, < https://www.iranintl.com/en/202401251037>