“Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price.” — Sun Tzu.
Pakistan has faced terrorism for decades, resulting in the loss of many precious lives, including those of our citizens and personnel of law enforcement agencies. As per the report of the Global Terrorism Index 2025, Pakistan ranked second. What happened in Baluchistan on Tuesday shook the whole nation. The attack and hijacking of the Jaffer Express, a passenger train that was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was unprecedented in Pakistan’s history.
Pakistan is a breeding ground for conspiracy theories and controversies. The moment this attack occurred, keyboard warriors from various domains began to spew venom against Pakistan without even knowing the ground realities and understanding the terrain. This resulted from the ineffectiveness of the authorities, who have time and time again distanced themselves from the general public. In the aftermath of the Jaffer Express tragedy, there was no cohesion among the public and politicians. People were not ready to accept the rhetoric of the government and security forces and were looking for answers elsewhere.
Over the past few months, the writ of the state has been eroding in Baluchistan. The separatists are roaming with impunity in the province, setting government installations on fire, killing innocent Punjabis, and targeting the security forces. The separatists need to be dealt with an iron fist, and there should be no negotiations with these individuals who kill innocent civilians and disrupt the peace of the region.
There is no doubt that these individuals are taking advantage of the economic and political situation of Pakistan. It is high time that we, as a nation, go into this war against terrorism. A complete national consensus and clarity on the war against terrorism is the need of the hour. For this, all state actors, both inside and outside the political sphere, must sit down, and a complete memorandum must be achieved to thwart future attacks on the sovereignty of the country. Military operations should be started on a wider scale to completely annihilate the separatist forces. Border intelligence-based bombing should be done deep inside their territory to eliminate them at the heart. Politicians should pass strong laws on this agenda simultaneously. The country at large should be educated on this war that has been waged by the enemy against the state. This situation should be taken seriously, and it is evident that dealing with separatists isn’t an easy job.
A solid security plan should be devised for Baluchistan with the intent to execute it. Intelligence should be gathered to identify the miscreants before they can cause harm. Security forces must be authorized to carry out precise operations, using necessary force to eliminate threats while reducing unintended casualties. Enforcement of anti-terrorism laws will ensure that those involved face swift justice and severe consequences. Collaborating with international partners is essential to dismantle terrorist networks and cut off their financial support. There should be a consensus ad idem between the opposition and the government on implementing these measures, and the opposition should refrain from petty politics and trivial matters while the country is going through these turbulent times. Collaborating with international partners is essential to dismantle terrorist networks and cut off their financial support. Pakistan should seek the extradition of the leaders of these separatist groups who are living luxurious lives abroad and causing trouble in the province. Lastly, preventive measures such as community outreach and deradicalization programs should be prioritized to discourage recruitment into extremist groups.
This attack should serve as a wake-up call to the whole nation. We must put aside our differences and support our government and armed forces in these dire times. Let us not give the enemy ways to exploit us more. The government should devise a strategy quickly because if not now, then when?
