Pakistan Resorts to Damage Control Over Accountability! Questions Surround Military?s Handling of Crisis

On March 11th, 2025, the Jaffar Express train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, carrying over 400 passengers, was hijacked in Bolan, Balochistan. The attackers used explosives to derail the train and took hostages, including civilians and security personnel.

The attack was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an ethno-nationalist militant group that seeks the secession of Balochistan from Pakistan, citing historical grievances, marginalization, and exploitation of the region?s natural resources.

Late on March 12th, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, announced the conclusion of the hostage crisis involving the Jaffar Express. ISPR claimed that security forces had successfully conducted an operation to end the siege, eliminating all 33 insurgents, including their leaders, and rescuing every hostage aboard the train.

ISPR spokesperson, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, ?The final operation was conducted with great care. All attackers involved?33 militants, including their leaders?have been eliminated, and a large number of people, including women and children, have been safely rescued.?

While the announcement emphasized the success and precision of the operation, skepticism has emerged regarding the lack of transparency. To date, no photographs or videos of the so-called ?successful operation? or the freed hostages have been shared by Pakistani authorities. This absence of visual evidence has raised questions about the veracity of the claims and prompted calls for clearer communication and proof of the events that unfolded during the siege.

Strict restrictions were imposed around Bolan sealing off the conflict zone, fueling suspicions about the true nature of the events. Journalists from the Quetta Press Club were reportedly barred from entering the zone, effectively preventing independent verification of the military?s claims.

This media blackout has raised questions about the credibility of the narrative presented by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Moreover, the ISPR has been accused of attempting to obscure the actual number of military personnel killed during the incident. Reports suggest that a significant number of off-duty soldiers were among the hostages, but the exact casualty figures remain unclear, with conflicting accounts emerging from various sources.

The Pakistani military continued to clutch at straws during the March 14th press conference, where DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reiterated unsubstantiated claims.

He accused the Indian media of engaging in information warfare from the onset of the incident, alleging the use of AI-generated images, the broadcasting of old and unrelated videos, and the dissemination of content provided by the BLA.

During the press conference, DG ISPR alleged that the attack on the Jaffar Express was not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend involving the active participation of Afghan nationals in terrorism within Pakistan.

In a desperate attempt to implicate both its eastern and western neighbours, the DG made wide accusations that the hijacking was orchestrated and directed from Afghanistan, but that the primary sponsorship of the train hijack originated from Pakistan?s ?eastern neighbor,? a clear reference to India.

Adding to these accusations, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, who was also present at the event, echoed similar sentiments. He accused Indian intelligence agencies of using Afghanistan as a conduit to destabilize Pakistan by supporting and fomenting terrorist activities.

The criticism directed at Indian media for merely reporting publicly available claims is misplaced and unwarranted, especially given that the ISPR itself failed to respond promptly or provide transparent information about the hijacking incident.

ISPR has faced criticism for its delayed and opaque response to the hijacking of the Jaffar Express. Despite the gravity of the situation, it did not provide timely updates or clear communication during the critical hours of the crisis. This lack of promptness created a vacuum of information, allowing speculation and misinformation to spread unchecked.

The ISPR?s press conference appeared to lean heavily on public relations tactics rather than addressing the core issues at hand. The briefing not only revived outdated and unfounded allegations against India but also attempted to shift responsibility for Pakistan?s internal challenges onto neighboring Afghanistan.

Such an approach risks deflecting attention from resolving domestic security lapses and instead perpetuates a blame culture that offers little constructive value.

The DG is right on one count at least ? the hijacking of the train was not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, Pakistan has faced a surge in terrorism, ranging from suicide bombings and targeted assassinations to complex assaults on military bases and mosques.

The escalating insurgency has exposed the state?s weakening grip over its restive provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, as both terrorists and separatist groups grow bolder. The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) 2025 now ranks Pakistan as the world?s second most terrorism-affected country.

According to the report, terrorism-related deaths surged by 45 per cent in 2024 to 1,081, while attacks more than doubled from 517 to 1,099. This dire situation stems from Pakistan having political and institutional shortcomings that continue to impede any counterterrorism efforts, not due to any role by external actors.

The Balochistan Liberation Army claims responsibility for an attack on a train in southwesterWhat casts even more doubts on the ISPR?s claims are the specific allegations made by Jeeyand Baloch, the spokesperson for the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

Jeeyand has dismissed the ISPR?s statements as ?a failed attempt to cover up lies and defeat,? asserting that the Pakistani military?s narrative regarding the resolution of the Jaffar Express hijacking incident was far from the truth.

He further criticized the Pakistani army?s handling of the situation, accusing them of failing to secure a decisive victory on the battlefield or successfully rescuing their hostage personnel.

Mr. Baloch alleged that the state had effectively ?abandoned its own soldiers,? leaving them to face dire consequences as hostages. He painted a grim picture of the military?s priorities, claiming that the authorities had chosen to sacrifice their personnel rather than negotiate or take meaningful action to ensure their safety.

?The Pakistani state and its propaganda machinery claim to have rescued individuals who were, in fact, released by the BLA in accordance with our war ethics and international principles,? Mr Baloch said.

Statements made by BLA?s Jeeyand Baloch, were corroborated by civilians freed during the Jaffar Express incident. Released passengers who arrived in Quetta told local media that BLA fighters voluntarily freed women, children, and elderly individuals shortly after taking control of the train.

One passenger recounted that armed men at the compartment doors assured them, saying, ?We will not harm civilians, women, the elderly, and Baloch individuals.?

Additionally, the BLA released an audio message through its official media channel, Hakkal. In the recording, a fighter confirmed ongoing clashes and stated that all women, children, and elderly hostages had been released, emphasizing that the remaining hostages were military personnel from what they described as ?occupying forces.? These accounts further align with the narrative provided by the BLA regarding their handling of the incident.

The BLA?s rejection of the ISPR?s claims underscores the ongoing tensions and the deep mistrust between the insurgent group and the Pakistani state. It also raises questions about the transparency and effectiveness of the military?s operations in addressing the insurgency in Balochistan.

Instead of addressing the underlying issues or formulating an effective response, Pakistan?s military establishment appears to deflect blame onto others rather than accept responsibility for its internal challenges.

Instead of attributing blame to external actors, Pakistan should concentrate on addressing the systemic inequities, social grievances, and widespread discontent prevalent in Balochistan. The region has long grappled with issues of marginalization, underdevelopment, and perceived exploitation of its rich resources, which have fueled resentment and unrest among the local population.

The combination of restricted transparency, persistent accusations against external actors, and the overall secrecy surrounding the Jaffar Express hijacking incident leads to a clear conclusion: the Pakistani military appears more focused on damage control than genuine accountability.

By withholding critical information, barring independent verification, and deflecting blame onto neighboring countries, the military undermines its own credibility and misses the opportunity to address the deeper systemic issues contributing to such crises.

(geopolitico.gr)