Terror on the Tracks: How India and Afghanistan are Fuelling the Balochistan Insurgency

Pakistan Under Siege: The Growing Threat in Balochistan

Pakistan is once again reeling from a surge in terror attacks, exposing its growing security crisis. The recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express by Baloch separatists and a wave of deadly bombings have put the spotlight on the escalating insurgency in Balochistan. However, deeper analysis suggests that foreign elements—particularly India and Afghanistan—are actively backing these militant groups, fueling unrest and destabilizing the region.

Jaffar Express Hijacking: A Well-Orchestrated Foreign Plot?

On March 11, 2025, armed operatives from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express, carrying 440 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar. As the train passed through a mountainous tunnel, militants detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), derailing the train and plunging it into chaos. The Frontier Corps (FC), Special Forces, and Pakistani Rangers engaged in an intense two-day battle, killing 13 BLA terrorists and rescuing the hostages.

However, security analysts now believe that this brazen attack was not an isolated incident—it was part of a larger strategy orchestrated by India and supported by Afghan intelligence networks. The BLA has long received backing from external forces, and recent intelligence reports indicate that funding, arms, and training camps for Baloch insurgents are being operated across the border in Afghanistan.

Balochistan: The Battlefield for India’s Proxy War

For years, India’s intelligence agency—RAW (Research and Analysis Wing)—has been accused of sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan. Pakistani security officials claim that India is arming and financing separatist groups like the BLA, the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), and the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) to weaken Pakistan’s sovereignty.

The modus operandi of these groups, their advanced weaponry, and their ability to strike high-profile targets indicate external logistical and financial support. Furthermore, reports suggest that India is using Afghan soil to provide sanctuary and training to these militants, leveraging the instability in Afghanistan to mount attacks on Pakistan.

Afghanistan’s Role: A Haven for Baloch Militants

The fall of Kabul to the Taliban in 2021 led to a complex security situation in the region. While the Taliban initially pledged not to allow Afghan soil to be used for attacks against Pakistan, intelligence agencies have discovered training camps for Baloch insurgents inside Afghanistan. The Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS)—the intelligence wing of the former Afghan government—was long suspected of assisting anti-Pakistan militant groups. Even after the Taliban takeover, remnants of these networks continue to provide support to Baloch militants.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has uncovered evidence of Afghan intelligence operatives coordinating with RAW to smuggle weapons, explosives, and money into Balochistan. The porous Pakistan-Afghanistan border has made it difficult for security agencies to fully disrupt these supply chains.

India’s Strategy: Destabilizing Pakistan from Within

Why is India so interested in Balochistan?

1. Economic Disruption: Balochistan is home to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar initiative that India sees as a threat to its regional dominance. By funding separatist groups, India aims to create instability that discourages Chinese investment in Pakistan.
2. Revenge for Kashmir: After India revoked Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan intensified its diplomatic and military efforts in the region. India, in turn, seeks to counterbalance Pakistan’s influence by stirring unrest in Balochistan.
3. Military Encirclement: India’s strategy of supporting insurgencies in Pakistan’s western provinces complements its military buildup along the eastern border, effectively pressuring Pakistan on multiple fronts.

Pakistan’s Response: A Call for Regional Action

Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies are now intensifying counterterrorism operations in Balochistan, targeting insurgent hideouts and supply routes.

1. Increased Border Security: Efforts to tighten border control with Afghanistan are being ramped up to curb the movement of militants and their financial networks.
2. Crackdown on Separatists: The Pakistani Army and ISI are now working to dismantle BLA strongholds and neutralize its leadership.
3. Diplomatic Pressure on India and Afghanistan: Pakistan has called on the international community, including China and the UN, to pressure India and Afghanistan into halting their proxy war tactics in Balochistan.

The Public Backlash: Growing Distrust in Government

Despite these countermeasures, the Pakistani public is losing faith in the government’s ability to protect them. The repeated attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are seen as failures of intelligence and security management. Political analysts warn that if the government does not take swift and decisive action, foreign-sponsored militancy could spiral out of control.

FAQs: The Truth About Balochistan’s Insurgency

1. Who is responsible for the Jaffar Express hijacking?

   • The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, but evidence suggests Indian and Afghan intelligence support.

2. Is India really backing Baloch separatists?

   • Yes, multiple intelligence reports indicate that RAW has been funding and arming Baloch militants for years.

3. How is Afghanistan involved in Balochistan’s unrest?

   • Afghan intelligence networks have provided safe havens and training camps for Baloch insurgents, with tacit Indian support.

4. What is Pakistan doing to stop the insurgency?

   • The Pakistani Army and ISI are conducting major counterterrorism operations in Balochistan.

5. Why does India want to destabilize Pakistan?

   • To weaken Pakistan’s economic projects like CPEC and retaliate for Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir.

6. Are China’s interests in Balochistan at risk?

   • Yes, Chinese workers and CPEC projects have been targeted by Baloch militants, raising concerns in Beijing.

7. Why hasn’t Pakistan completely crushed the Baloch insurgency?

   • Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province, making it difficult to control every militant movement.

8. Has India admitted to supporting Baloch insurgents?

   • While India officially denies involvement, RAW’s activities suggest otherwise.

9. Can Pakistan improve relations with Afghanistan to stop the militancy?

   • Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, but Afghan instability makes cooperation challenging.

10. Will Balochistan ever see lasting peace?

• Only if foreign interference ceases and economic development addresses local grievances.