Pakistan train hijack: How Jinnah’s betrayal caused the start of violent Balochistan rebellion, his role was…

Jinnah, who had earlier supported Kalat’s independence, later pressured the Khan Mir Ahmed Yar Khan to join Pakistan, in a point of betrayal. Scroll down to know more.

History behind Pakistan train hijack: In an unfortunate turn of events shocking the entire world, a train carrying around 500 passengers was hijacked while it was moving from Quetta to Peshawar in Pakistan. During the hijacking, 37 passengers were injured during the rescue operation and have been sent for medical treatment, a report by news agency PTI quoted security sources as saying.

The Jaffar Express, with around 500 passengers on board in nine coaches, was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when armed men intercepted it in a tunnel near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri in the Bolan area on March 11. Notably, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility for the attack.

However, one point that many of us don’t know today is the fact that the present day Balochistan Liberation movement is actually the result of betrayal from Islamabad, under the leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

History behind Balochistan rebellion

The Balochistan rebellion that the world is witnessing today finds its trace back to the year 1947 when Pakistan was formed and Balochistan consisted of four princely states namely, Kalat, Kharan, Las Bela, and Makran. While the areas of Kharan, Las Bela, and Makran decided to merge with Pakistan under the influence of Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Kalat, under the leadership of Khan Mir Ahmed Yar Khan, declared independence on August 15, 1947.

How Mohammad Ali Jinnah is responsible for BLA?

However, Jinnah, who had earlier supported Kalat’s independence, later pressured Khan Mir Ahmed Yar Khan to join Pakistan, in a point of betrayal. After facing international isolation as the British did not give the state rights to undertake international responsibilities as an independent state, Kalat’s leader Khan had to sign the instrument of accession, marking the forced merger of Kalat into Pakistan after 226 days of independence.

However, despite Kalat’s formal accession, a sense of resentment against Islamabad and Mohammad Ali Jinnah was rising, which in later years turned out into a huge rebellion. Over the last few decades, Islamabad’s dangerous military control and the exploitation of Balochistan’s natural resources have fueled continued resistance and inspired the need for separation. Reports have it that many Baloch nationalists still view the 1948 accession signed under the force of Mohammad Ali Jinnah as betrayal.

(With inputs from agencies)