Quotes
They asked us to come out of the train one by one. They separated women and asked them to leave. They also spared elders."
Muhammad Naveed, who managed to escape, told AFP
The Prime Minister expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of security personnel and train passengers during the operation,
it said in a statementDeceased were identified as 19 military passengers, one police and one railway official, while four bodies are yet to be identified,
the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told AFPThis is an act of terrorism,
government spokesman Shahid Rind said
Security forces have safely rescued 155 passengers [and] 27 terrorists have been eliminated,
a security source said
We lay on the floor once heavy firing started. Shortly after, armed men entered the train and checked our identities,
he said in Quetta
Why didn't you stop the trains if they were not safe?"
she saidWe extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to the victims, their families, and all those affected by this horrific act. The Pakistani people deserve to live free from violence and fear,
it said
They started checking the identity cards of some people and separated some of them. Three militants were guarding the doors of our coach. They told the people that they would not say anything to civilians, women, old people and Baloch people,
he saidRecruiting young, educated fighters is no longer a challenge, as the group enjoys significant popularity among Baloch youth, despite the controversial nature of its operations,
Akbar says
After Aslam Baloch’s death in a bomb attack in Kandahar, Afghanistan, the group’s leadership passed to Bashir Zaib Baloch,
Nabeel told Al JazeeraThe new leadership displayed a greater tendency to showcase their power and capabilities in the media. Among them, the most prominent figures include Aslam Baloch, who was later killed in 2018, and, more recently, Bashir Zaib, former student leader of the BSO,
Akbar addedWhile Bashir Zaib introduced female militants, his deputy, Hammal Rehan, oversees Majeed Brigade’s operations,
Nabeel saidHigh-handed state policies, bad governance, lack of accountability, and cases of enforced disappearances have become catalysts for militants to recruit and influence more sympathizers, including people with highly educated backgrounds such as professional IT experts, data analysts, and other professionals, thereby broadening their reach and social media influence,
he told Al JazeeraBLA has learned the art of staying in news and keeping the state apparatus engaged on multiple fronts. The quantity of attacks and fronts tell us that BLA’s recruitment is increasing and now it can dedicate more resources and personnel for operations,
he told Al JazeeraToday, the BLA operates with little to no influence from the Marri tribe. Instead, its leadership has shifted to educated Baloch figures, many of whom were once part of the non-violent Baloch Students Organization (BSO),
he told Al JazeeraInstead, its appeal has grown among young Baloch, many of whom believe armed struggle is the only viable path for their people’s survival,
he addedThe recent operations by the separatist Baloch armed groups have been highly effective, as they have utilised many American weapons. Following their withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, it was easy to procure [these] from the porous border it shares with Afghanistan,
he addedMany view it [the provincial government] as more loyal to Islamabad than to the people of Balochistan, particularly because it refuses to take a stand on critical issues like enforced disappearances,
he saidCertain individuals from the Baloch diaspora also provide financial support,
he said