Militants Attack Train With 500 Passengers In Pakistan
BloombergMAR 9
Pakistan: 182 Taken Hostage, 20 Soldiers Killed in Train Attack
Above: A Pakistani man walks past a broken mirror on the Jaffar Express train after an attack at a railway station in Quetta on early Jan. 6, 2012. Image copyright: Banaras Khan/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
This attack is an act of terrorism. Separatists who fire on innocent passengers and target state assets are anti-national and anti-social elements. The government can't make concessions with these beasts: it has implemented emergency measures and launched both ground and aerial operations to nab the terrorists and rescue the passengers.
Narrative B
The BLA seeks to protect Balochistan's resources from exploitation and secure independence for the region. Despite being Pakistan's richest province in terms of natural resources, Balochistan remains the least developed, with its people facing discrimination and exploitation by the central government. This aggressive response reflects decades of economic marginalization and political suppression.