The Jaffer Express hostage crisis left us all shaken—but was this the first time Balochistan faced such terror?
For us, it was painful to see passengers held for over two days, suicide bombers among women and children. But just like before, when the darkness took over for a brief period of time, at the end of the day, our resilience prevailed. Pakistanis stood strong, and our security forces delivered justice. We experienced it all from 2003-2014 —only to witness victory. We are experiencing this again along with the new generation among us and I want to tell them – we shall find the light again insha’Allah.
Director General Salman Javed recalls his first encounter with Balochistan. It was a cold December evening when he landed in Quetta, the temperature dipping to -5°C. As he stepped off the plane, snowflakes greeted him, and he fell in love with the city’s aura. But what followed afterwards was unexpected.
Escorted under heavy protection, helicopters hovered above as they traveled to Serena Hotel. Every movement in the city was guarded. It felt as if Quetta was slipping away. As if they are moving through a war torn city.
After three years, came a turning point. He remembers taking a few young men and women, hopping into three vehicles—with no guards except drivers—and heading to Ziarat. It was just after terrorists had blown up Quaid’s Residency. They returned safely after sunset. That journey changed everything.
Over time, he traveled deep into Balochistan—from Awaran to Turbat, Lasbela to Khuzdar, Gwadar to Ormara. He saw the real struggles and fought to raise the voices of Balochistan’s youth.
His last visit, a year ago, was no different—the city’s glorious aura welcomed him again. This time, a young colleague hosted him. They drove around, had a lavish dinner, strolled through a bustling bazaar to purchase the dry fruits and ended the night with chai at a famous dhaba. Quetta was alive again.
And so it will be again. The life of our Quetta, our beautiful Balochistan will fight back insha’Allah. No amount of darkness and terror can push us back.
This trauma will pass. Pakistan and Balochistan will thrive, Insha’Allah. Some forces may try to shake our resilience, but battle-hardened nations don’t fall. Even in the darkest of hours, we fight back.
Also See: The Cost of BLA’s War on Pakistan’s Unity and Lives
For current generation, this might be new. But through resilience and unity, we will learn—those who live by the sword and die by the sword. They know what cost they will have to endure to ensure the lasting peace for coming generations.
And those who are unworthy of understanding this legacy and not capable of shaping our nation’s future shouldn’t even claim to own it.
Pakistan Zindabad, Balochistan Paindabaad.
PAYF Insights are social media threads by various authors, reproduced here for wider consumption.
