Pakistan: Baloch Liberation Army Hijacks Jaffar Express in Balochistan, Taking 182 Hostages

More than 400 people were on the Jaffar Express on Tuesday when militants fired on the train and blew up the track in the Balochistan region, Pakistani security officials said.

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistani security forces successfully freed the remaining passengers from a hijacked train after a tense standoff with separatist militants. The attackers, wearing explosive-filled vests, had taken hundreds of hostages and killed 21 of them, security officials confirmed on Wednesday.

In addition to the slain hostages, four soldiers lost their lives during the operation, Pakistan’s military stated, assuring that security forces would support the victims’ families and those rescued.

The militants, identified as members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), had earlier claimed to have killed over 100 people and issued further execution threats.

Following an intense, high-risk operation, the Pakistani military announced that all 33 militants, including suicide bombers, had been neutralized. The rescue mission was carried out in phases, with 178 hostages freed on Wednesday, following the recovery of 168 passengers the previous day.

The Jaffar Express, carrying over 400 people, including 214 soldiers and security personnel, was en route from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, to Peshawar when it was attacked.

Baloch Liberation Army Claims Deadly Attack on Train, Demands Prisoner Release

PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an armed ethnic group engaged in a prolonged insurgency against the Pakistani government, has claimed responsibility for a recent deadly attack on a train. The group has demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners, activists, and other detainees within 48 hours, threatening to execute hostages if their demands are not met.

Earlier, the BLA stated that none of its fighters had been killed and refuted claims that the hostages had been freed, adding that it had voluntarily released all women, children, sick individuals, and Baloch civilians.

The attack claimed the lives of 11 people, including the train driver and eight paramilitary personnel, while 37 others sustained injuries, security officials confirmed. Among the injured were two Pakistan Army officers who were airlifted to a military hospital for treatment.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the assault, calling it a “cowardly attack” and stating that targeting innocent passengers during the sacred month of Ramadan proves the terrorists have no ties to Islam, Pakistan, or Balochistan. He reiterated that the fight against terrorism will persist until it is fully eradicated from the country.

Following the attack, the nine-coach train remained stranded inside the tunnel, with security forces cordoning off the area. “We have intensified security in Bolan given the current situation,” said Rana Muhammad Dilawar, head of the District Police Office.

Authorities confirmed that 80 hostages—comprising 43 men, 26 women, and 11 children—were released on Tuesday night and safely reached a railway station in the Mach district of Balochistan. Security officials revealed that the freed hostages had to walk for several hours before boarding a cargo train, as militants had damaged the railway track, further complicating rescue efforts.

Pakistan Train Hijacking: Security Forces Rescue Passengers, Battle Militants in Bolan

Bolan, a rugged mountainous region stretching over 100 kilometers between Quetta and Sibi, is home to 17 railway tunnels where trains often slow down due to the challenging terrain. In this difficult landscape, militants hijacked a passenger train, leading to an intense standoff with security forces.

Pakistani security forces have killed at least 27 militants while rescuing 155 passengers as clashes with the insurgents enter a second day. According to security sources, 37 passengers sustained injuries during the rescue operation and have been taken for medical treatment.

The situation remains critical as militants have reportedly deployed suicide bombers wearing explosive vests near hostages. Women and children have been taken captive at three different locations, making the counterterrorism mission highly delicate. Security forces are continuing efforts to neutralize the remaining militants while ensuring the safety of those held hostage.

The insurgents have now fragmented into smaller groups, attempting to escape under the cover of darkness. However, security personnel have surrounded the tunnels and are closing in on the attackers. Heavy gunfire and explosions have been reported near the seized train tunnel as the operation intensifies.

Separatist militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked a train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, carrying approximately 500 passengers. The group claimed to have taken over 214 hostages and killed at least 30 security personnel.

The Pakistan Army announced on Wednesday that all 33 Baloch insurgents who hijacked a passenger train carrying over 400 people in Balochistan province were killed. The attack, carried out by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), resulted in the deaths of 21 passengers and four Pakistani Army personnel during an hours-long operation.

The insurgents had halted the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express by detonating explosives on a railway track inside a tunnel, approximately 160 km from Quetta, the train’s departure point. The BLA, which advocates for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan, had issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the release of political prisoners in exchange for hostages, warning of severe consequences if their demands were not met.