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Pakistan’s security terrain has reached a critical juncture, marked by escalating violence from ethno-nationalist and jihadist groups, particularly in Balochistan. The strategic crisis in Pakistan reached its peak when the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) seized the Jaffar Express passenger train traveling with more than 400 people, including military personnel. An attack coordinated by the BLA that killed 33 militants and claimed 25 civilian and security force deaths illustrates BLA’s tactical abilities as well as the Pakistani governmental inability to solve systemic issues. The Taliban government in Afghanistan maintains harboring conditions for Baloch separatists and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) by providing them with safe locations, which intensifies instability across the region.
The Jaffar Express Hijacking
On March 11, 2025, the BLA achieved its goal of tactical advancement when it hijacked Jaffar Express. Militants activated railroad bombs within the mountainous terrain of Bolan while targeting trains at slow speed to seize control of the carriage. The BLA appealed for the emancipation of Baloch political prisoners and for the government to take official responsibility for enforced disappearances, highlighting the persistent neglect of Balochistan by the Pakistani state since its 1948 accession. The group’s strategic development of suicide bombings and split team tactics during the siege demonstrated their better operational proficiency, while attacks throughout Pakistan increased by 70% year-to-year in 2024. The separatist Baloch movement controls 34 percent of all insurgent operations, and the BLA extends its operations from Balochistan toward Karachi city and the South Punjab region.
What role does Afghanistan play in the BLA’s operations and why
Afghanistan directly supports the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) operation activities by providing safe bases and supply networks while maintaining strategic cooperation points, aside from Kabul’s public statements. The dynamic support between the BLA and the Taliban exists because of historical conflicts, regional disputes, and problems faced by the Taliban since its takeover in 2021.
Since the early 2000s, the BLA has employed Afghan territory as its operational base, where its leadership has traditionally located itself in Kandahar and other southern regions. Since the year 2018, the BLA’s leader Aslam Baloch and his successor Bashir Zaib Baloch both lived within Afghanistan to avoid Pakistani counterterror operations by exploiting the country’s open borders. The BLA factions relocated to the distant Afghan provinces of Nimroz and Helmand after the Taliban took over in 2021 because the Taliban maintained minimal territorial authority. The March 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking was conducted through satellite communication commands which originated from Afghanistan, according to Pakistan’s military forces.
Strategic Motivations for Taliban Support
The Taliban shows tolerance toward BLA actions because it seeks vengeance against Pakistan resulting from previous historical conflicts. Pakistan incurred negative feelings from its support of the U.S.-backed Afghan administration during 2001-2021, as well as its potential secret operations against the Taliban during that time. By providing sanctuary to militants targeting Pakistan, the Taliban can maintain leverage against Islamabad regarding conflicts about the Durand Line.
The Taliban uses BLA operations as leverage to force Pakistan into granting diplomatic recognition and economic aid while increasing its overall power. Pakistani military forces shifted their attention from Afghanistan because of the continuous instability throughout Balochistan. The Taliban groups share their primary target as the Pakistani state despite having different beliefs between Islamist Taliban and secular BLA followers. The Taliban allied with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which created opportunities for BLA-TTP cooperative actions by weapon transfers and coordinated military operations mainly in Pashtun regions of Balochistan.
After the U.S. forces withdrew in 2021, large American weapon stores remained in Afghanistan, and the BLA reportedly acquired these weapons through cross-border networks. The group’s operational capabilities have improved through the acquisition of advanced rifles and explosives, which are depicted in their campaigns from 2024 to 2025. Financial networks without oversight throughout Afghanistan allow the BLA to acquire funding from narcotics trade and extortion activities because the Taliban maintains minimal oversight over these operations.
The Taliban repeatedly refutes all Pakistani accusations about its links with BLA by labeling these allegations as groundless. Local Taliban commanders secretly support insurgents because the decentralized framework enables autonomous decisions about providing backing to militants, but Kabul maintains no formal confirmation. The dual identity of the BLA poses problems for Pakistan’s foreign relations since its air strikes against Baloch militants throughout the Khost border areas lead to rising tensions but do not damage their operational networks.
In conclusion, Afghanistan maintains an essential position for the Baloch Liberation Army by supplying both strategic assistance and protected environments, which drive the insurgency in Balochistan. The continuing support between the Taliban and Baloch insurgents stems from historical conflicts combined with strategic goals that enable them to pressure Pakistan through Baloch resistance. To properly handle the growing operational capabilities of the BLA, the situation requires Pakistan to implement political reforms for Baloch grievances alongside diplomatic efforts aimed at stopping Afghan militants. The region faces ongoing instability which threatens every aspect of security in the broader region unless preventive measures are taken.
[Photo of Jaffar Express train, by Mazahirshah, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author.
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