Voice of East<p><strong>Addressing Strategic Risks in US-Pakistan Critical Mineral Cooperation</strong></p><p><strong>Addressing Strategic Risks in US-Pakistan Critical Mineral Cooperation</strong></p><p>By <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/?s=Andrew+Korybko&x=0&y=0" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Andrew Korybko</a></p><p><strong>Pakistan might be handing the US a poisoned chalice.</strong></p><p></p> <p>The US sent one of its top diplomats for South Asia to attend the <a href="https://pk.usembassy.gov/u-s-senior-official-visits-pakistan-to-boost-minerals-cooperationstrengthen-economic-and-security-ties/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum</a> in Islamabad last week, during which time he conveyed the Trump Administration’s interest in critical mineral cooperation with Pakistan and met with senior political and military officials to discuss this. These resources are integral to the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” and that’s why the US is negotiating such partnerships across the world with countries as varied as <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/04/02/zelensky-has-no-feasible-alternative-to-accepting-trumps-lopsided-resource-deal/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Ukraine</a>, the <a href="https://archive.is/aUi3o" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Congo</a>, and now Pakistan.</p><p>Each of these three entail strategic risks, but it’s only the last one that will be discussed in this analysis. To begin with, the bulk of Pakistan’s mineral resources <a href="https://ncc.gov.pk/SiteImage/Misc/files/Minerals%20Map%20Pakistan%20Eng(1)(1).pdf" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">are located</a> in its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, which are respectively suffering <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2023/07/15/the-ttps-terrorist-threat-to-pakistan-is-metastasizing/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">terrorist</a> <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/13/what-comes-next-after-the-jaffar-express-terrorist-attack-in-pakistan/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">insurgencies</a> waged by the <a href="https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/ttp_fto.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan</a> (TTP) and <a href="https://2017-2021.state.gov/terrorist-designations-of-balochistan-liberation-army-and-husain-ali-hazzima-and-amendments-to-the-terrorist-designations-of-jundallah/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Balochistan Liberation Army</a> (BLA). The former is fighting to impose a radical Islamic dictatorship, the latter wants independence, and both are designated by the US as terrorists.</p><ol><li>Accordingly, the first strategic risk that critical mineral cooperation with Pakistan entails is that these groups target American companies and nationals in these two regions. This is a plausible scenario since the BLA in particular is infamous for targeting Chinese workers, who they accuse of extracting their region’s wealth. As for the TTP, it’s waging war against the partially US-armed Pakistani state. Both groups are therefore expected to consider American companies and nationals to be legitimate targets.</li><li>The second strategic risk builds upon the first and relates to the US being convinced by Pakistan that the aforesaid threats to its mining companies could be mitigated through preferential arms deals. The Trump Administration would do well to think twice about that though since Pakistan’s much more significant arms relationship with China hasn’t made its workers any safer and perceived American favouritism of Pakistan by India could complicate their ties upon which a lot of the US’ “Pivot (back) to Asia” depends.</li><li>Segueing into the third strategic risk, Pakistan might be offering the US critical mineral cooperation at this time not only to cause trouble in Indo-US ties, but also to relieve reported pressure upon its <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/01/05/the-pakistani-regime-destroyed-their-country-and-betrayed-its-national-interests-for-nothing/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">ruling military establishment</a> by the America First faction. They believe that civilian-led democratic rule would facilitate the main anti-Chinese goal of the US’ “Pivot (back) to Asia” as explained <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/04/10/the-future-of-us-pakistani-ties-is-uncertain-amidst-reported-american-deep-state-differences/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">here</a> so the ruling military establishment that stands to lose from this might be trying to buy them off with a mineral deal.</li><li>The fourth strategic risk is that Pakistan doesn’t comply with whatever strings the US might attach to a mineral deal in exchange for relieving pressure upon its military rulers. For instance, they might agree to distance Pakistan in some way from China, logistically facilitate mineral exports from Afghanistan if the US clinches a similar such deal there, and/or allow CIA drone bases for spying on and threatening Iran. It’s possible that these would just be false promises to secure a deal and enrich corrupt military officials.</li><li>And finally, the last strategic risk is that the US gets embroiled in another “War on Terror” if “mission creep” leads to it fighting the TTP and BLA with Pakistan in order to secure its mineral investments. The “<a href="https://thedecisionlab.com/biases/the-sunk-cost-fallacy" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">sunk-cost fallacy</a>” could also play a role in these calculations too. Coupled with potential complications in Indo-US ties and the derailing of the US’ “Pivot (back) to Asia”, the strategic costs of critical mineral cooperation with Pakistan could far outweigh the expected benefits, thus making it a poisoned chalice.</li></ol> <p><em>Disclaimer: The views expressed </em><em>in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of <strong>Voice of East</strong>.</em></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/diploma-in-business-management/?referralCode=30A1A013F649D643212D" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">7 Courses in 1 – Diploma in Business Management</a></strong></p><p></p> <p></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/bla/" target="_blank">#BLA</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/geopolitics/" target="_blank">#Geopolitics</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/pakistan/" target="_blank">#Pakistan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/pakistan-army/" target="_blank">#PakistanArmy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/ttp/" target="_blank">#TTP</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/usa/" target="_blank">#USA</a></p>
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Lorraine<p><a href="https://www.anglehealth.com/post/fda-approved-pfizer-vaccine" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">anglehealth.com/post/fda-appro</span><span class="invisible">ved-pfizer-vaccine</span></a><br>& Pfizer’s timeline for their <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/BLA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BLA</span></a></p><p>spoiler alert;<br>initial approval August 2021 with supplemental approval for age 12-17 September 2023</p><p>not enough data my a**<br><a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/novavax" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>novavax</span></a></p>
Lorraine<p><a href="https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2021/06/15/whats-the-difference-between-vaccine-approval-bla-and-authorization-eua/#:~:text=First%2C%20the%20FDA%20wants%20to,inspections" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/202</span><span class="invisible">1/06/15/whats-the-difference-between-vaccine-approval-bla-and-authorization-eua/#:~:text=First%2C%20the%20FDA%20wants%20to,inspections</span></a>)%20in%20a%20BLA%20submission.</p><p>the more you know…<br><a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/biologicalLicenseApplication" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>biologicalLicenseApplication</span></a> <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/BLA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BLA</span></a> & why it’s so very important <a href="https://zeroes.ca/tags/Novavax" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Novavax</span></a></p>
Hynerd.it<p>Black Mirror torna su Netflix con la settima stagione: sei nuovi episodi che esplorano il lato oscuro della tecnologia. Scopri come queste storie potrebbero cambiare la tua percezione del futuro. <a href="https://mastodon.uno/tags/Bla" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Bla</span></a>...</p><p><a href="https://www.hynerd.it/black-mirror-7-trama-cast-data-uscita-netflix/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">hynerd.it/black-mirror-7-trama</span><span class="invisible">-cast-data-uscita-netflix/</span></a></p>
Syeda Yasmeen Aftab Ali<p>MY VLOG: Balochistan arrests| Protests| What are Balochistan issues? Solutions?</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/gh9eZzDAuiM" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">youtu.be/gh9eZzDAuiM</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p>Balochistan faces multifaceted issues. Are the roots in their geography or is it more complicated? </p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/pakistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>pakistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/baluchistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>baluchistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/army" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>army</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/bla" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bla</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/baluchi" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>baluchi</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/issues" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>issues</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/afghanistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>afghanistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/india" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>india</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/reality" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>reality</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/mahrangbaloch" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>mahrangbaloch</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/arrests" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>arrests</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/samibaloch" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>samibaloch</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/geography" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>geography</span></a></p>
Syeda Yasmeen Aftab Ali<p>MY VLOG: Baluchistan| Rape of Dr Shazia Khalid| New BLA| Ustad Aslam & Zaib Bashir| The 4 wings of BLA</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/tEx0NlnNpsc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">youtu.be/tEx0NlnNpsc</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p>A complete summarized brief on Balochistan issues. Formation & new face of BLA. Terrorist activities & genuine demands of Baluch.Captain Hammad, Dr Shazia, Balaj Maari, Ustad Aslam, Zaib Bashir, Bugti & other actors of Balochistan saga. </p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/baluchistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>baluchistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/baluchi" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>baluchi</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/bla" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bla</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/musharraf" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>musharraf</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/bugti" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bugti</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/mahrangbaloch" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>mahrangbaloch</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/balajistatus" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>balajistatus</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/bugti" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>bugti</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/jaffarexpresshijacked" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>jaffarexpresshijacked</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/force" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>force</span></a></p>
Syeda Yasmeen Aftab Ali<p>MY VLOG: Killing fields of Baluchistan| Solution please| Stop the blame game</p><p><a href="https://youtu.be/hUQxogG1qTU" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">youtu.be/hUQxogG1qTU</span><span class="invisible"></span></a></p><p>Baluchistan| Attacks| Kidnappings| Murders| India, Afghanistan involved BUT where is OUR strategy? Why can BLA terrorists not be brought off by us? </p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/pakistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>pakistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/baluchistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>baluchistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/army" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>army</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/BLA" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BLA</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/afghanistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>afghanistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/india" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>india</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/training" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>training</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/terrorism" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>terrorism</span></a>, <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/ammunition" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>ammunition</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/securitybreach" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>securitybreach</span></a></p>
The Times Of India<p>In Balochistan, a Pakistani military convoy was attacked by the Baloch Liberation Army, resulting in 90 army personnel deaths. The convoy comprised eight buses, with one completely destroyed. However, a Pakistani police officer confirmed five paramilitary deaths. Earlier this week, a similar attack by the BLA led the military to free hostages from a train siege in Balochistan.<br><a href="https://india.goonj.xyz/tags/BLA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BLA</span></a> <a href="https://india.goonj.xyz/tags/Balochistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Balochistan</span></a> <a href="https://india.goonj.xyz/tags/MastIndia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MastIndia</span></a> <a href="https://india.goonj.xyz/tags/MastodonIndians" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>MastodonIndians</span></a> <a href="https://india.goonj.xyz/tags/India" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>India</span></a> <span class="h-card"><a href="https://a.gup.pe/u/mastodonindians" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>mastodonindians</span></a></span><br><a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistani-troops-killed-injured-in-attack-on-army-convoy-balochistan-quetta-taftan-noshki-baloch-liberation-army/articleshow/119071490.cms" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">timesofindia.indiatimes.com/wo</span><span class="invisible">rld/pakistan/pakistani-troops-killed-injured-in-attack-on-army-convoy-balochistan-quetta-taftan-noshki-baloch-liberation-army/articleshow/119071490.cms</span></a></p>
Girl Selfie<p>Anja Bla <a href="https://www.girlselfie.com/626645/anja-bla-11/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">girlselfie.com/626645/anja-bla</span><span class="invisible">-11/</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/Anja" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Anja</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/BeautyInOurTime" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BeautyInOurTime</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/Bla" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Bla</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/GirlSelfie" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GirlSelfie</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/girls" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>girls</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/GirlsSelfie" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GirlsSelfie</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/pretty" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>pretty</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/PrettyGirls" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PrettyGirls</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/PrettyGirlsInstagram" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PrettyGirlsInstagram</span></a> <a href="https://channels.im/tags/PrettyGirlsSelfie" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PrettyGirlsSelfie</span></a></p>
خبرگزاری کوکچه<p>اعدام ۲۱۴ نظامی پاکستانی توسط ارتش آزادیبخش بلوچستان</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%DA%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>بلوچستان</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/%D9%BE%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>پاکستان</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/BLA" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BLA</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>اعدام</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D8%AC%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%B1_%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B3%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>قطار_جعفر_اکسپرس</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%B4_%D9%BE%D8%A7%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>ارتش_پاکستان</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/%D8%AC%D8%AF%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C%E2%80%8C%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>جداییطلبان</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/%D8%AF%D8%B1%DA%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1%DB%8C_%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%DA%86%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>درگیری_بلوچستان</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kokchapress.com/51205/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">kokchapress.com/51205/?utm_sou</span><span class="invisible">rce=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social</span></a></p>
Voice of East<p><strong>What Comes Next After The Jaffar Express Terrorist Attack In Pakistan?</strong></p><p><strong>What Comes Next After The Jaffar Express Terrorist Attack In Pakistan?</strong></p><p>By <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/?s=Andrew+Korybko&x=0&y=0" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Andrew Korybko</a></p><p><strong>Regardless of whether or not Pakistan authorizes kinetic action against “Balochistan Liberation Army” camps in Afghanistan, the state must adequately address the indigenous causes of this conflict without further delay otherwise it’ll never stand any chance of restoring stability to its largest region.</strong></p><p></p><p>Pakistan is reeling after this week’s <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/11/deadly-pakistan-train-hijack-what-happened-and-whats-next" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">hijacking</a> of the Jaffar Express by the terrorist-designated “Balochistan Liberation Army” (BLA). It’s impossible to independently confirm the details given strict state censorship, but around 400 people were taken hostage, including servicemen traveling home on leave. The BLA <a href="https://indianexpress.com/article/pakistan/pakistan-train-attack-live-baloch-liberation-army-train-hijack-dead-army-9881065/#:~:text=Militant%20demands%3A,to%20Reuters." rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">demanded</a> the release of what they described as political prisoners, but the military staged a daring operation to end the day-long ordeal instead. At least two dozen people were killed.</p><p>The Baloch Conflict <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2024/09/01/the-cia-isnt-responsible-for-the-upsurge-of-terrorism-in-pakistans-balochistan-region/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">owes its origins</a> to Balochistan’s contentious incorporation into Pakistan but has evolved in recent years to take on shades of “resource nationalism”. What’s meant by this is that some locals believe that their resource-rich region, the largest in Pakistan at nearly half the country’s size, isn’t receiving its fair share of wealth. The BLA and its supporters also accuse Pakistan of selling the region out to China. Pakistan denies these claims and has always blamed <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2024/08/15/ten-things-to-know-about-afghanistan-on-the-third-anniversary-of-the-talibans-return-to-power/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Afghanistan</a> and India for the conflict.</p><p>It therefore wasn’t surprising when the Foreign Office’s spokesman <a href="https://www.geo.tv/latest/595175-pakistan-accuses-india-of-jaffar-express-deadly-terrorist-attack" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">said</a> on Thursday that “India has been involved in terrorism in Pakistan. In the particular attack on Jaffar express, the terrorists had been in contact with their handlers and ring leaders in Afghanistan.” While the Afghan dimension is likely true owing to the Taliban sheltering the BLA and its <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2023/07/15/the-ttps-terrorist-threat-to-pakistan-is-metastasizing/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">new de facto TTP allies</a>, which the group considers to be a means of <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2022/08/28/a-dangerous-security-dilemma-is-rapidly-developing-in-pakistan-taliban-relations/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">asymmetrically restoring the balance of power</a> with Pakistan, the Indian angle is questionable.</p><p>Pakistan’s accusation against India is premised on their history of proxy warfare against one another over the decades, which makes it reasonable to suspect India of backing Baloch militants against Pakistan as response to Pakistan backing Kashmiri ones against India, among others. There’s also Pakistan’s capture of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-39552157" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Kulbhushan Jadhav</a> in 2016, who Islamabad accused of being an Indian spy tasked with organizing terrorist attacks in Balochistan, while India has always insisted that he’s innocent of these charges.</p><p>Taken together, they form the cornerstone upon which the Foreign Office put forth its latest accusation, but it’s bereft of proof and instead comes off as a deflection from the conflict’s indigenous causes and the Taliban’s indisputably more direct role in what happened. After all, the BLA receives sanctuary in Afghanistan, so the Taliban is much more to blame for what happened. Even if the Taliban pleads ignorance and claims that it can’t control its borders, which isn’t true, then that’s also a problem.</p><p>Whichever way one looks at it, the Indian angle is therefore questionable, but Pakistan pushing it is meant to accomplish three goals. First, it’s intended to rally Pakistanis behind the government by blaming their historical rival for this latest terrorist attack. Second, Pakistan also hopes to rally the international community – or at least some of its SCO partners like China – against India. And finally, Pakistan might <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2023/01/06/pakistan-might-be-about-to-launch-a-special-military-operation-in-afghanistan/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">authorize kinetic action</a> in Afghanistan, but on what it’ll present as an anti-Indian basis.</p><p>Building upon the last point, this could resemble Russia’s <a href="https://korybko.substack.com/p/korybko-to-azerbaijani-media-all" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">special</a> <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2022/11/12/20-constructive-critiques-of-russias-special-operation/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">operation</a> in the sense of how Russia militarily intervened in Ukraine on an anti-NATO basis after accusing the bloc of exploiting Ukraine as a proxy, which Russia claimed could become a launching pad for more aggression if it wasn’t stopped. Likewise, Pakistan might carry out comparatively smaller-scale strikes and/or incursions in Afghanistan and only target terrorist groups, but it could justify them on similar grounds.</p><p>The benefit in presenting things this way is that Pakistan can continue to claim that it has no problem with Afghanistan per se, just with how its historical Indian rival is allegedly exploiting that country as a proxy, which could become a launching pad for more aggression if it isn’t stopped. The problem though is that this motive is much more questionable than Russia’s vis-à-vis NATO in its own special operation in Ukraine so Afghans as a whole might regard any larger-scale Pakistani kinetic action as a hostile act.</p><p>Even if Pakistan eschews such a response to this latest terrorist attack for whatever reason, officially tying India into what happened suggests that it has no interest in addressing the conflict’s indigenous causes, instead preferring to blame everything on its neighbour like always. That’ll only lead to an even wider rift emerging between Balochis and the rest of the country, which can in turn result in more BLA sympathizers or even recruits, thus intensifying the already self-sustaining cycle of instability there.</p><p>The larger that the BLA’s pool of sympathizers and recruits becomes, the greater the unconventional threat that Pakistan faces in Balochistan, which could embolden the <a href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/01/05/the-pakistani-regime-destroyed-their-country-and-betrayed-its-national-interests-for-nothing/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">military regime</a> into doubling down on its controversial “preemptive” anti-terrorist policies like “<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68125590" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">forced disappearances</a>”. The most effective way to reduce the aforesaid pool is to empower responsible locals through meaningful economic and political partnerships with the state for showing them that they have more to gain through unity.</p><p>For example, Baloch veterans could be appointed to lead new projects in their home region, and these would be obligated to reinvest a percentage of their proceeds into local initiatives. These same figures and other similarly trusted ones could also be supported by the state as alternative community leaders for counteracting the pernicious influence of separatist-inclined tribal leaders. That’s easier said than done, but it should be attempted without delay otherwise the BLA’s pool will keep growing.</p><p>The combination of political radicalism and state failure is most responsible for perpetuating the Baloch Conflict, not foreign forces, though the Taliban’s recent assistance has definitely been important. Without adequately addressing these indigenous causes, which requires a complete rethinking on the part of the Pakistani government, outsiders will always be able to exploit this conflict. Accordingly, cross-border kinetic action in Afghanistan can be helpful, but a lasting solution requires much more than that.</p> <p><em>Disclaimer: The views expressed </em><em>in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of <strong>Voice of East</strong>.</em></p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.udemy.com/course/diploma-in-business-management/?referralCode=30A1A013F649D643212D" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">7 Courses in 1 – Diploma in Business Management</a></strong></p><p></p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/afghanistan/" target="_blank">#Afghanistan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/balochistan/" target="_blank">#Balochistan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/bla/" target="_blank">#BLA</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/india/" target="_blank">#India</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/pakistan/" target="_blank">#Pakistan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/pakistan-army/" target="_blank">#PakistanArmy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/terrorism/" target="_blank">#Terrorism</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/terrorists/" target="_blank">#Terrorists</a></p>
Voice of East<p><strong>Balochistan Crisis: Imran Khan Says Stability Only Possible Through Public Trust in Government</strong></p><p><strong>Balochistan Crisis: Imran Khan Says Stability Only Possible Through Public Trust in Government</strong></p><p><strong>An Important Message by Former Prime Minister Imran Khan from Adiala Jail – March 11, 2025</strong></p><blockquote><p>“Terrorism has once again taken root in the country. During our tenure, Pakistan had successfully curbed terrorism and was progressing towards promoting tourism. Our ranking in the Global Terrorism Index had improved by four places. However, the regime change reversed this progress, and unfortunately, Pakistan has once again become the second worst-affected country in the Global Terrorism Index.</p><p>Pakistan’s foreign policy is being handled in the worst possible manner, just like its internal affairs. Our border with Afghanistan is extensive, and matters with them should be resolved through dialogue. Peace in the country will remain elusive unless our foreign policy with neighbouring countries is independent and sovereign. Military operations are never the solution to problems — even major wars have been resolved through negotiations and efforts for peace and stability.</p><p>The primary role of intelligence agencies is to protect borders and counter terrorism. If they remain occupied with political engineering and attempting to dismantle Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), then who will safeguard the borders? Terrorism is spreading in Balochistan, yet no political solution is being sought for the issue. Stability will not be possible until a government based on public trust is established across the country, including in Balochistan.</p><p>Governance across the country is in a dire state because, instead of genuine public representatives, those who were imposed through Form 47 are in control. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the only province where an elected government having real public mandate exists, and due to its representation of the people’s aspirations, its performance surpasses that of all other provinces. The province’s annual performance report is exemplary, and Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is doing an excellent job.</p><p>Adiala Jail currently operates above the law. It is my legal and fundamental right to meet my wife regularly, but contrary to the jail manual, I am not being allowed to meet my wife for 72 hours within 90 days, which is my fundamental and legal right. Despite court orders, I have not been permitted to speak with my children for the past two weeks. I was allowed to speak with them only four times in the last four months. Even my books are not being delivered to me. All of this constitutes a grave violation of basic human rights, legal norms, and the jail manual. At present, Pakistan is being run in accordance with the law of ‘might is right’.”</p></blockquote> <p> </p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/balochistan/" target="_blank">#Balochistan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/bla/" target="_blank">#BLA</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/imran-khan/" target="_blank">#ImranKhan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/pakistan/" target="_blank">#Pakistan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/pakistan-army/" target="_blank">#PakistanArmy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/terrorism/" target="_blank">#Terrorism</a></p>
Flipboard News Desk<p>What is the Baluch Liberation Army? <span class="h-card" translate="no"><a href="https://flipboard.com/@AssociatedPress" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>AssociatedPress</span></a></span> has more on the militant group in Pakistan that took train passengers hostage.<br><a href="https://flip.it/4a9t0f" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">flip.it/4a9t0f</span><span class="invisible"></span></a><br><a href="https://flipboard.social/tags/Pakistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Pakistan</span></a> <a href="https://flipboard.social/tags/Baluch" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Baluch</span></a> <a href="https://flipboard.social/tags/BLA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BLA</span></a> <a href="https://flipboard.social/tags/Train" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Train</span></a> <a href="https://flipboard.social/tags/Rebels" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Rebels</span></a> <a href="https://flipboard.social/tags/Insurgents" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Insurgents</span></a></p>
Voice of East<p><strong>عوامی اعتماد پر مشتمل حکومت كے بغیر ملك میں استحکام ممکن نہیں۔ عمران خان</strong></p><p><strong>عوامی اعتماد پر مشتمل حکومت كے بغیر ملك میں استحکام ممکن نہیں۔ عمران خان</strong></p><p>سابق وزیراعظم عمران خان کا اڈیالہ جیل سے اہم پیغام</p><p></p> <p><strong>Share this:</strong></p> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="" href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/12/awami-aetimad-per-mushtamil-hakoomat-ke-beghair-istehkam-mumkin-nahin-imran-khan/?share=twitter" target="_blank"><span>Twitter</span></a></li><li><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="" href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/12/awami-aetimad-per-mushtamil-hakoomat-ke-beghair-istehkam-mumkin-nahin-imran-khan/?share=facebook" target="_blank"><span>Facebook</span></a></li><li><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="" href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/12/awami-aetimad-per-mushtamil-hakoomat-ke-beghair-istehkam-mumkin-nahin-imran-khan/?share=reddit" target="_blank"><span>Reddit</span></a></li><li><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="" href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/12/awami-aetimad-per-mushtamil-hakoomat-ke-beghair-istehkam-mumkin-nahin-imran-khan/?share=linkedin" target="_blank"><span>LinkedIn</span></a></li><li><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="" href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/12/awami-aetimad-per-mushtamil-hakoomat-ke-beghair-istehkam-mumkin-nahin-imran-khan/?share=pocket" target="_blank"><span>Pocket</span></a></li><li><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="" href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/12/awami-aetimad-per-mushtamil-hakoomat-ke-beghair-istehkam-mumkin-nahin-imran-khan/?share=jetpack-whatsapp" target="_blank"><span>WhatsApp</span></a></li><li><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="" href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/12/awami-aetimad-per-mushtamil-hakoomat-ke-beghair-istehkam-mumkin-nahin-imran-khan/?share=telegram" target="_blank"><span>Telegram</span></a></li><li><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="" href="https://voiceofeast.net/2025/03/12/awami-aetimad-per-mushtamil-hakoomat-ke-beghair-istehkam-mumkin-nahin-imran-khan/?share=tumblr" target="_blank"><span>Tumblr</span></a></li><li>Email</li><li></li></ul><p><a href="https://jetpack.com/redirect/?source=calypso-marketing-sharing-buttons&site=voiceofeast.net" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Customise buttons</a></p> <p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/balochistan/" target="_blank">#Balochistan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/bla/" target="_blank">#BLA</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/imran-khan/" target="_blank">#ImranKhan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/pakistan/" target="_blank">#Pakistan</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/pakistan-army/" target="_blank">#PakistanArmy</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/urdu/" target="_blank">#Urdu</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/%d9%be%d8%a7%da%a9-%d8%a7%d9%81%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%ac/" target="_blank">#پاکافواج</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/%d9%be%d8%a7%da%a9%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%86/" target="_blank">#پاکستان</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://voiceofeast.net/tag/%d8%b9%d9%85%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%ae%d8%a7%d9%86/" target="_blank">#عمرانخان</a></p>
Kriszta SatoriJaffar Express kidnapping - graphic
Jürgen Wössner<p>Seltsame neue Mode, jede E-Mail mit «Hallo …, ich hoffe es geht dir gut. …» zu beginnen. Anfänglich hab ich mir noch Mühe gemacht darauf einzugehen aber dann stand das immer in einem Missverhältnis zu «Hier das gewünschte PDF» oder «Erledigt.» oder «Was heisst, es funktioniert nicht?». – <a href="https://typo.social/tags/Floskeln" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Floskeln</span></a> <a href="https://typo.social/tags/kommunikation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>kommunikation</span></a> <a href="https://typo.social/tags/bla" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>bla</span></a></p>
Kriszta Satori<p><a href="https://journa.host/tags/BBCNews" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BBCNews</span></a> - At least 100 passengers freed from Pakistan train siege<br><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y2q5v9249o" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">bbc.com/news/articles/c5y2q5v9</span><span class="invisible">249o</span></a><br><a href="https://journa.host/tags/Balochistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Balochistan</span></a> <a href="https://journa.host/tags/BLA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BLA</span></a></p>
Global Threads<p>🇵🇰 PAKISTAN<br />🔴 Hostage Rescue After Train Attack</p><p>🔸 Over 100 hostages freed after BLA militants attacked a train in Balochistan; 3 killed.<br />🔸 Attackers bombed the railway track before storming the train.<br />🔸 BLA's recent violence includes targeting non-Baloch travellers and killing 26 in a Quetta bombing.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Pakistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Pakistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Balochistan" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Balochistan</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/BLA" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>BLA</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Terrorism" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Terrorism</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.social/tags/Security" class="mention hashtag" rel="tag">#<span>Security</span></a></p>
Armed militants in Pakistan's #Balochistan region have attacked a train carrying hundreds of passengers and taken a number of hostages, military sources have told the BBC
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y2q5v9249o
#BLA
BBC NewsPakistan militants attack train and take passengers hostagePolice say at least three people were injured in the attack and it is unclear how many people are being held hostage.
Ⓐ
https://piaille.fr/@le_pere_peinard/114144323730245122
"L'armée pakistanaise est en mouvement après que les guérilleros de l'Armée de libération baloutche (BLA) ont détourné le Jaffar Express dans le sud-ouest du pays, prenant plus de 100 otages, principalement des soldats pakistanais.#Baloutchistan #Pakistan #BLAhttps://www.leperepeinard.com/breves/larmee-pakistanaise-est-en-mouvement-apres-que-les-guerilleros-de-larmee-de-liberation-baloutche-bla-ont"
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