NEW DELHI: West Asia strategist Waiel Awwad expressed his views on the Pakistani media reports of Jaffar Express train attack in Balochistan.
He said, “Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed the hijacking of a Pakistani train with more than 100 soldiers. They have been releasing the children and the elderly woman and are negotiating with the Pakistani authorities. Balochistan feels that Pakistan has occupied and annexed Balochistan province into Pakistan after the Partition. They believe that they have been oppressed. All the oppression of the Baloch people led to their fighting against the Pakistan Army.”
He further added, “There is a call by the Baloch movement all over the world to join the demonstration on 28 March to fight against the Pakistan authority. There are some exchanges of fire. Pakistan army is using drones and military force.”
Explaining the possible reasons for the attack, Awwad highlighted how since 1947 Balochistan has been struggling for Independence and over the course of years, the Baloch people are suffering from enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, amongst other issues at the hands of the army.
Pakistan local media, earlier on Tuesday, reported that the Jaffar Express train was on its way from Quetta in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it came under intense firing in Balochistan.
Over 450 passengers and staff are feared to have been taken hostage, local media reported.
The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures and all institutions have been mobilised to deal with the situation, government spokesperson Shahid Rind said, according to the Dawn.
As per ARY News, the driver of the train sustained severe injuries. Pakistan’s Samaa TV said that according to Railway officials, no contact has been established with the 450 passengers and staff aboard the nine-coach Jaffar Express. The train departed from Quetta at 9 am.