Who're Majeed Brigade, BLA's suicide squad behind Pakistan train hijack
What's the story
The recent hijacking of the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan's Bolan district has brought the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its specialized Majeed Brigade into the spotlight.
Armed rebels attacked the train on March 11, which was on a regular journey from Quetta to Peshawar.
The incident resulted in the deaths of at least 20 soldiers and initially took 182 hostages, though 104 passengers have since been rescued.
Special unit
BLA's Majeed Brigade: The force behind the attack
The BLA, a militant group operating in Balochistan, has claimed the Jaffar Express hijacking.
The outfit said hostages taken from the train would be "executed" if a security operation was launched.
The attack was launched by their specialized unit, the Majeed Brigade, or BLA's suicide squad.
Formed in 2011, the unit is infamous for carrying out intricate and deadly attacks, often targeting Chinese in Pakistan.
Historical context
Majeed Brigade: A history of deadly attacks
The BLA formed the Majeed Brigade in memory of two brothers, Majeed Langove Senior and Junior.
The former was killed during an attempt to assassinate then-Pakistani PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in 1974, and the latter died attempting to save his comrades during a raid in 2010.
The brigade first came into the limelight with a suicide attack in December 2011, targeting Shafeeq Mengal, and later gained further attention with an attack on a bus of Chinese engineers in August 2018.
Tactical capabilities
Majeed Brigade's arsenal and recruitment
The Majeed Brigade is well-equipped, with high-grade weapons and sophisticated explosives to make suicide vests. It has reportedly acquired American weapons and military equipment.
The brigade doesn't discriminate based on gender in recruitment; a 31-year-old woman was deployed for a suicide attack in 2022 that killed three Chinese citizens and their Pakistani driver.
It is currently estimated to have about 100-150 members, including women.
Government reaction
Pakistan's response to the train hijacking
After the hijacking, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif condemned the act, saying it "is a clear reflection that these terrorists have no connection with the religion of Islam, Pakistan (or) Balochistan."
As to why the Jaffar Express is often targeted, Al Jazeera reported that the train is commonly used by security personnel, mostly from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
The last major attack took place last November when a suicide bomber detonated himself, killing 30.