Why did the BLA hijack a train in Pakistan?

In a shocking development, militants are said to have held several people captive after hijacking the Jaffar Express train in Baluchistan, Pakistan, on Tuesday, March 11. The train was ambushed as it neared Tunnel No. 8 in the Bolan area while traveling from Quetta to Peshawar.

Between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar, the train that was going from Quetta to Peshawar was targeted. Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the administration of Balochistan, verified reports of heavy shooting. The attack was attributed to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which said it derailed the train, killed six security guards, and captured 400 people, including military personnel. The assertion hasn’t been independently confirmed, though.

BLA threatened Pakistan’s Army;

The BLA threatened that if Pakistan’s military conducted an operation, all hostages would be put to death. Security personnel are pursuing the attackers, and authorities have declared an emergency in nearby hospitals. Rescue operations are still underway after the train’s driver suffered severe injuries. Insurgent activity has been rampant in Balochistan, where the BLA regularly targets security forces and government installations.

BLA is banned in Pakistan;

When the BLA began a bloody campaign against Pakistan in 2004 to demand division of Balochistan from Pakistan and started violent attacks on the military installations and on the civilians of Pakistan. On April 7, 2006, the Pakistani government declared the Balochistan Liberation Army a terrorist organization and banned the militant group after it carried out numerous terror strikes. On July 17, 2006, the BLA was placed on the UK’s list of prohibited groups. Its actions were labeled terrorism by the United States.