Torkham to reopen soon I Pakistan among top five polluted countries, ranks Air Quality report
PR Explainer
Militants hijack a train in Balochistan: Where, Who and Why
D. Suba Chandran
On 11 March 2025, militants targeted a train in Balochistan province and took more than 400 passengers hostage. At the time of writing this note on 12 March, according to Radio Pakistan, security forces were engaged in a military operation, in which 155 passengers were released and 27 militants killed.
The Radio Pakistan quoted security forces saying suicide bombers are using people as shields and are positioned close to the hostages. According to Radio Pakistan, "The suicide bombers have taken women and children hostage at three different locations. Due to the presence of women and children with the suicide bombers, the operation is being conducted with utmost caution.”
Where?
The hostage-taking took place in the Bolan district of Balochistan. The train - Jaffar Express (named after Mir Jaffar Khan Jamali, a Baloch leader from the Jamali tribe who was close to Jinnah) runs between Quetta in Balochistan and Peshawar in KP. The Jaffar Express chugs across Sindh and Punjab provinces via Sibi, Jacobabad, Rohri, Multan, Lahore, Rawalpindi and Nowshera.
The train crosses the Bolan pass, consisting of multiple tunnels, where the militant attack took place between Sibi and Quetta. The Bolan Pass connects the Sibi and Quetta districts in Balochistan and historically was one of the two major routes (along with the Khyber Pass) that connected the Indian subcontinent with Afghanistan and the rest of the world in the west and north. The British built the rail route during the 1880s and served as a strategic link connecting Karachi with Afghanistan. The Bolan valley in the Toba Kakar mountain range is spread along the Bolan river, connecting Quetta with Sibi.
The hostage-taking had taken place in Bolan Pass when the train was passing a tunnel 150 km away from Quetta. The train was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar, carrying 450 passengers; according to media reports, militants armed with rockets fired at the engine, injuring its driver, hijacked the train, checked the identities of passengers, took some of them and fled. At the time of writing this note, it is not clear how many have been taken hostage by the militants. According to a news report in the News, quoting security sources, “the suicide bombers are holding women and children at three different locations, using them as human shields.” According to Dawn, 155 passengers have been rescued.
Who?
According to the local media reports, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a Baloch militant group, has taken responsibility for the attack and taking hostages. According to a Dawn news report: "The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack and claimed to have taken a large number of people hostage. The group also claimed that they had freed a number of people — including women and children — but these reports could not be independently verified.”
The BLA is one of the many Baloch organizations operating in the province. Other organizations include the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). The Baloch militant groups, primarily the BLA, have been targeting the security forces, infrastructural projects, Chinese presence and assets, and also non-Baloch migrants working in Balochistan.
An annual report published by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) in January 2025 notes the increased attacks by the BLA, the BLF, and the Majeed Brigade.
Why?
First, the militancy in Balochistan. During the last few years, there has been an increase in militant attacks in Balochistan. According to “Pakistan Security Report 2024,” published by the Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) in January 2025, during 2024, there was a “surge in terrorist attacks and casualties in 2024.” The report says, “The province experienced an 84% rise in attacks compared to the previous year, with 202 terrorist incidents that claimed 322 lives and injured 534 others. In contrast, 229 people were killed in such attacks in the province in 2023. Attacks by various Baloch insurgent groups, primarily the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), saw a staggering 119% increase, accounting for 171 incidents in the province.”
Based on the above data, one could identify a trend in militant attacks in Balochistan, which has been on the increase. Another report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), providing data for February 2025, also reflects a similar trend during this year. According to its data, there were more militant attacks in Balochistan during February 2025; there were 30 plus attacks resulting in the killing of 50 plus people, more than half of them being civilians.
Second, there has been an increase in BLA’s operations. According to the PIPS annual report, “there has been a notable evolution in the operational strategy and capabilities of Baloch insurgent groups. The BLA, in particular has transitioned from conducting low intensity, small-scale attacks several years ago to executing more sophisticated and high profile operations today.”
Third, targeting non-Baloch migrants who are coming to Balochistan in search of work. During the last few years, there have been selective targeting of passengers, as a strategy by the militant groups across Pakistan. In 2024, during August, militants stopped buses and trucks in Musakhail district, offloaded the passengers, checked their identities and killed 23 of them. Most of them were from Punjab. The BLA took responsibility for the attack. A similar attack took place in April 2024 in the Noshki district that witnessed the killing of nine civilians from Punjab. Targeting of passengers has been a trend in the militant targets from Gilgit to Gwadar for sectarian and secular reasons. According to the above PIPS annual report, attacks on non-Baloch migrants "represent a calculated effort by Baloch insurgents to exacerbate tensions between Balochistan and Punjab."
Fourth, passengers – either by train or bus – are soft targets for the militants. Given the vast geography of Balochistan, it will not be an easy task for the police and military to provide security. Besides, the security forces are stretched across Pakistan, and the militant groups take advantage of it.
In Brief
POLITICS
On President Zardari’s parliamentary speech:
“The choices made today will shape the country’s future,” argues an editorial in The News International
On 12 March, an editorial titled “Cautionary talk” in The News International discussed President Asif Ali Zardari’s parliamentary speech where he touched upon the threat of extremism and the cholistan canal project among other pressing issues. Given the current state of Pakistan’s security, he underscored the need to tackle extremist ideologies. He suggested consensus-building activities. The editorial deems this an important point as successive governments have either promoted or ignored “extremist narratives for political engineering.” On a global level, reports have emerged from Arab countries about Pakistanis spreading extremist ideologies in their states. This is further compounded by President Donald Trump’s threats of imposing a travel ban on Pakistanis by citing security concerns. The issue of radicalization is no longer Pakistan’s domestic issue. To highlight this, the editorial cites the recent arrest of Pakistan-origin people in Spain and Italy on terrorism charges. The editorial warns that if such a trend continues, then it would significantly impact the economy as it is highly dependent on foreign remittances from the regions mentioned above. On the other hand, while talking about the Cholistan project, President Zardari warned the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) government against its unilateral decisions as was seen in the approval of the Cholistan project. He deemed it a “grave strain on the federation.” In this regard, the editorial acknowledges the President’s concerns as it could exacerbate Pakistan’s water crisis after its short return from falling into an economic crisis. In this regard, the editorial warned that the government ought to take steps in favour of the country’s future and not risk alienating its allies. ("Cautionary talk”,” The News International, 12 March 2025)
MEDIA
On PECA amendments:
“It remains to be seen whether these amendments will withstand legal and public challenge or they will ultimately tighten the noose around free speech in Pakistan,” wonders an opinion in The Express Tribune
On 12 March, in an opinion titled “PECA: tightening of the noose,” Syed Akthar Ali Shah argued against the recent amendments to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2025. The author acknowledged the advantages of the cyber world and the need to implement cyber laws to overcome underlying risks. The 2016 PECA law was welcomed in Pakistan as a move towards ensuring cybersecurity, however, the 2025 amendments have been viewed as controversial. The 2025 amendments introduced nine new definitions that are vague and ambiguous. For instance, the term aspersion has been made synonymous with defamation, implying that any form of criticism can be criminal. Among other issues, concerns have been raised regarding the criminalization of “false and fake information - without providing a clear legal definition of what constitutes.” Critics argue that this provision may be subjected to misuse, especially against journalists, activists, and other entities in national and international matters. It could potentially suppress fundamental freedoms of speech and expression. Hence, the law could serve as a tool “for suppression rather than protection.” Only time will tell whether these “amendments will withstand legal and public challenge or they will ultimately tighten the noose around free speech in Pakistan.” (Syed Akthar Ali Shah, “PECA: tightening of the noose,” The Express Tribune, 12 March 2025)
ECONOMY
On Monetary policy: Sustainable foreign capital inflows and structural tax reforms are essential “to ease monetary policy without risking another deeper balance-of-payments crisis,” says an editorial in Dawn
On 12 March, an editorial titled “State Bank’s caution” in Dawn highlighted the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) decision to halt its monetary easing policy despite a significant drop in inflation rates in February. Despite a drop in the consumer price index, the SBP was cautious of the elevated core inflation rates that could pose a risk to food and energy prices. To this extent, monetary easing was necessary to counter the probable rebound of food and energy prices. The external account has also come under pressure due to the shrink in inflows and rising import costs, resulting in a current account deficit of USD 0.4 billion in January. Moreover, the current account is being used to pay off foreign debt payments because of “weakening private and official capital flows into the financial account.” Taking a view of the economic uncertainty in the international markets and potential “trade war between major economies,” the central bank has considered how it could risk inflation outlook, international trade, and commodity prices. Furthermore, the SBP’s previous monetary easing is now materializing as macro indicators have projected improvement. However, Pakistan is not outside the risk zone as it suffers low fiscal collection and the hike in US tariffs also poses a significant peril. In this regard, the State Bank ought to secure “sustainable foreign capital inflows and structural tax reforms” to prevent falling into another balance of payments crisis. (State Bank’s caution,” Dawn, 12 March 2025)
SOCIETY
On Vani:
“A father should not have to end his life to protect his daughter in a nation of laws,” Says an editorial in Dawn
On 12 March, an editorial titled “Too little, too late,” in Dawn cited the recent suicide of a barber in Dera while indicating the state’s failure to protect its people. The man identified as Adil was put through torture, coerced to pay PKR 700,000 and driven to give up his 11 year old daughter to vani as compensation for an alleged conversation between his nephew and daughter of an influential figure. The editorial shed light on the “barbaric ‘custom’” of Vani, which has been prohibited by law under the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices (Criminal Law Amendment) Act 2011. It prevents the exchange of women for settling disputes. However, despite such provisions in place, out-of-court settlements continue to be practiced. The editorial questioned how a panchayat is capable of functioning as a jury, judge, and executioner while the state authorities “look the other way?” Furthermore, the fact that the police took action after the man committed suicide spoke volumes of the state’s incapacity to protect its people. In this regard, the editorial suggested that the state ought to “dismantle all panchayats practicing such rulings, establish proactive police monitoring in vulnerable areas, and swiftly prosecute all involved in such ‘verdicts’.” Besides, a specialized unit must be established by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to identify and curb the incidence of vani before it takes place. (“Too little, too late,” Dawn, 12 March 2025)
ENVIRONMENT
Air Quality report ranks Pakistan among top five polluted countries in 2024
On 11 March, data published by the World Air Quality Report 2024 highlighted that Pakistan is among the top three most polluted countries in 2024. Securing third place is the national average of PM 2.5 with a concentration of 73.7 micrograms. While the national average in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi remained the same, Peshawar witnessed an increase in PM 2.5 concentrations. Furthermore, all the cities of Pakistan combined have an average concentration level that goes above the World Health Organization timeline. Key sources of high pollution are industrial activities, brick kilns, biomass emissions, industrial activities and construction dust, often cross the PM2.5 level in winter. (“Pakistan among five most polluted countries,” Dawn, 12 March 2025)
SECURITY
TTP continues to receive backing from the Taliban government, alleges Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN
On 12 March, Dawn reported on Pakistan’s cautionary note to the UN Security Council, describing how Tehreek-e-Taliban has transformed itself into an “umbrella organization” for all other militant outfits present in the region. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram, in his briefing to the UN Security Council, alleged that the TTP has the backing of the Taliban government and the terrorist outfit is working towards destabilizing the region. He further claimed that more than 20 terrorist outfits which operate from Afghanistan pose a serious security threat not only to Afghanistan but to the entire world. He also targeted the Taliban government in Afghanistan for not being able to counter its adversary- Islamic State of Khorasan (IS-K), which has carried out assaults in Russia and Iran recently. He further expressed Pakistan’s resolve to eradicate security threats posed by the terrorists operating in the region. He also boasted about the Pakistani security forces thwarting the attempt by IS-K terrorists to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan. He criticized the Taliban government for imposing more constraints on freedom of women in Afghanistan. (“TTP rapidly turning into regional, global threat, UNSC told,” Dawn, 12 March 2025)
Security forces neutralize five terrorists in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
On 10 March, security forces launched two operations against terrorists hiding in the North Waziristan district. The operation resulted in neutralizing five terrorists and wounding three others. Two of the killed terrorists were commanders of the terrorist group who had competence in “making suicide jackets and Improvised Explosive Devices.” (Pazir Gull, “Five terrorists killed in North Waziristan,” Dawn, 12 March 2025)
KP governor hosts PPP and PML-N leaders to discuss existing disagreements
On 11 March, members of the PML-N and the PPP held a meeting to sort out their disagreements. Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi hosted the meeting at his house. The meeting saw the presence of PML-N’s Rana Sanullah, Amir Muqam, Muhammad Yousaf and PPP’s Muhammad Ali Shah Bacha, Ahmad Karim Kundi among several others. The meeting followed the iftar party which was hosted by PM Shehbaz Sharif for PPP leaders. PPP leaders had previously expressed their unhappiness over the federal government’s decision to divert more canals from the Indus River. This will likely impact Sindh’s water availability. Further, PPP leaders also pointed out how they are sidelined in Punjab by the Maryam Nawaz-led government. The recent meeting between the PPP and the PML-N members stressed on formulating a “joint strategy” which would make sure that Sindh’s “peace and overall development” are not compromised. The meeting took place on the instructions of PM Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto. Leaders from the two parties at the meeting also discussed the worsening “security situation” in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They condemned the provincial government of KP for not being able to handle the security situation. (Syed Irfan Raza, “PPP, PML-N joint meeting expresses concern at deteriorating security situation in KP,” Dawn, 12 March 2025)
On Taliban government continuing to provide refuge to militant outfits: “rather than adopting an adamant attitude, Kabul should see reason and act immediately,” says an editorial in The Express Tribune
On 12 March, an editorial in The Express Tribune delved into the relevance of Permanent Representative to the UN Munir Akram’s cautionary address to the UN Security Council. The editorial referenced how Munir Akram condemned Afghanistan for giving refuge to the terrorists and how Tehreek-e-Taliban has transformed itself into an “umbrella organization” for all other militant outfits in the region. The editorial alleged that the TTP is forging alliances with various militant outfits in the region such as Al-Qaida, Islamic State of Khorasan, Balochistan Liberation Army, Majeed Brigade etc. The editorial argued that the Taliban government is not cognizant that the TTP poses a security threat to Afghanistan as well. The editorial appreciated Akram for stressing on the need for “stronger and well-coordinated counter-terrorism mechanism.” The editorial highlighted Pakistan’s efforts in combating the threat of terrorism by citing how Pakistan handed over the terrorist to the US who was indulged in Kabul airport suicide attack. Stressing on the need for counter-terrorism measures, the editorial emphasized that the TTP is in possession of “weapons of mass destruction.” Further, these are weapons that were left out by the US security forces. (“Epicentre of terror,” The Express Tribune, 12 March 2025)
AF-PAK
Torkham to open soon, reports Dawn
On 12 March, sources reported by Dawn claimed that the Torkham border crossing, which has been closed for nearly twenty days, may reopen following a meeting held with tribal elders on 11 March. These talks were held as the cross-border movement has been suspended since 21 February. Security forces on the Pakistan and Afghan side developed differences on the construction of infrastructure at the zero-point. Tensions heightened when violent exchanges erupted between security forces on both sides, causing infrastructural damage and casualties. In this regard, a jirga met Pakistani security to “take stock of the situation” after holding talks with authorities in Jalalabad and Kabul. On 10 March, a Pakistani jirga met with their Afghan counterparts and said that movement via Torkham would be resumed if the Afghan side abided by “agreed protocols and agreements about apprising each other about any change in the existing structure of the border on either side.” They further added that Pakistan will not cooperate if any construction or renovation is being done across the border. (Ibrahim Shinwari, “Hopes revived for Torkham reopening,” Dawn, 12 March 2025)
Migration affected by Torkham closure: IMO data
On 10 March, data released by the International Organization for migration revealed that the closure of Torkham has affected the return and expatriation of Afghan nationals. It stated that 6,191 Afghans could return to Afghanistan via five border crossing points between 16 and 28 February. 3,040 or 49 per cent of them returned through Torkham while the number of Afghan deportees declined by 47 per cent in comparison to the half of February. This comes as Pakistan has instructed illegally residing Afghan nationals and those holding an Afghan Citizen Card to leave the State by 31 March in line with its repatriation drive that began in 2023. (Amin Ahmed, “Border closure slows return of Afghans, says International Organisation for Migration,” Dawn, 12 March 2025)
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There is encouraging news of the return of more hostages.
- Imran Riaz Khan
We strongly deplore and condemn the attack on Jaffar Express Train. Our prayers and sympathies with the victims families. We stand united against such attacks. Our security forces have made sacrifices in the line of fire against the terrorists.
- Barrister Gohar Khan
The Jafar Express has been hijacked, many have been killed, young officers of the security forces are being held hostage, civilians are being held hostage, and the Speaker and Chairman are not allowing the opposition leader to speak and are taking unilateral action.
- Sabir Shakir
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"Across South Asia, there are examples of collaborations, even when relations are not always cordial."
An opinion in Dawn, 'Thriving through trade'
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