A passenger train carrying around 500 people was hijacked by insurgents in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Tuesday. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the attack, stated that it had taken 182 hostages, including Pakistani military personnel, and reported the deaths of 20 soldiers. The group also threatened to execute all hostages unless security forces withdrew.
The train, the Jaffar Express, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was attacked shortly after departing Quetta. It was forced to stop in Tunnel No. 8, after being ambushed by armed militants who opened fire on the train. The insurgents reportedly derailed the train before taking control of it following a fierce shootout at a remote location.
Local media reported that government officials have confirmed the attack and are working to establish contact with the people on board. The train, which was carrying 450 passengers and staff across nine coaches, is currently trapped in a tunnel, with no communication established with those aboard.
The militants claimed that after derailing the train, they successfully repelled a ground offensive by Pakistani security forces. “Baloch Liberation Army commanders have completely repulsed the ground operation of the occupying army after capturing the Jaffar Express. After fierce clashes, Pakistani ground troops were forced to retreat. However, the bombing by Pakistani helicopters and drones is still ongoing,” the insurgents said in a statement.
Railway officials have yet to confirm the exact number of casualties, although early reports suggest multiple passengers were wounded. Pakistani security forces have deployed reinforcements and are carrying out a counter-operation, reportedly involving aerial bombardment. A relief train carrying soldiers and doctors has been sent to the site, although the mountainous terrain has made access difficult.
An unverified video, reportedly showing the moment of the attack, surfaced online, displaying a train car engulfed in flames following an explosion, with gunfire and smoke rising in the background.
The BLA, a separatist group that seeks autonomy for the Balochistan region, claimed that the hostages included Pakistani military personnel and members of other security agencies. “Amongst the hostages are active-duty personnel from the Pakistani military, police, Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)—all of whom were travelling to Punjab on leave,” the militants said. The BLA warned that if Pakistani forces attempted a military operation, they would execute all remaining hostages, holding the government solely responsible for any bloodshed.
The militants also claimed to have released women, children, and Baloch passengers, asserting that only Pakistani security personnel were still being held. The attack was reportedly led by the BLA’s Majeed Brigade, with support from specialized units, including the Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) and Fateh Squad.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, vowing that the government would not negotiate with “beasts who fire on innocent passengers.” The provincial government has declared a state of emergency, with all relevant institutions mobilized to handle the crisis.
This attack follows recent developments in Balochistan, where several resistance groups advocating for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan announced an intensified offensive. These groups, which are critical of Pakistan’s treatment of the ethnic Baloch minority, seek to separate the mineral-rich region from the country. The Baloch claim they have long faced discrimination and exploitation at the hands of the Pakistani government.
Balochistan, a province bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has experienced ongoing insurgency and violent attacks in recent years, further complicating the already tense situation in the region. The hijacking of the Jaffar Express underscores the escalating volatility in the area, as separatist groups continue to challenge Pakistani control over the region.
