A major security crisis unfolded in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Tuesday when separatist militants hijacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar.
The attack, carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), resulted in the train driver being wounded and over 100 passengers taken hostage. Security forces have since launched a full-scale rescue operation, freeing 190 hostages and killing 30 militants.
However, an unknown number of hostages remain in captivity, and suicide bombers among the attackers continue to complicate efforts.
Attack and Hijacking
The Jaffar Express, carrying approximately 450 passengers in nine bogies, was ambushed as it passed through a mountainous region with multiple tunnels. Militants opened fire, injuring the driver, and later used explosives to blow up the railway track on Tunnel No. 8, causing the train to derail. Security personnel on board engaged in a firefight with the attackers, but the militants seized control of the train inside the tunnel. The rugged terrain gave the attackers an advantage, making immediate rescue operations difficult.
A video shared by the BLA on Telegram shows the train approaching a barren mountain pass when an explosion rips through the tracks, sending plumes of black smoke into the air. The footage also shows militants observing from a nearby hill before forcibly removing passengers from the train outside a tunnel. The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified.
Hostage Situation
The number of hostages still held by the BLA remains unclear. Survivors reported that militants conducted identity checks on those they had captured, allegedly searching for soldiers and security personnel. According to security sources, women, children, and Baloch passengers were reportedly released, while military and intelligence personnel were targeted.
“People were attacked … passengers were injured and some passengers died,” said Muhammad Ashraf, a passenger who survived the hijacking. Authorities confirmed that the train’s driver succumbed to injuries sustained during the attack.
Sources indicated that some of the BLA militants are wearing explosive vests and are seated next to hostages, making any rescue operation particularly dangerous. So far, at least 11 people, including paramilitary personnel, have been confirmed dead.
Militant Demands and Threats
The BLA has issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening to execute hostages unless the Pakistani government releases Baloch political prisoners and missing persons it claims have been forcibly disappeared by security forces.
BLA spokesman Jeeyand Baloch stated that the group was open to negotiations to swap prisoners. However, the Pakistani government has not publicly responded to this demand, and such requests have been rejected in the past.
A message attributed to one of the fighters aboard the train urged Baloch people to rise against the Pakistani state. “Comrades are shedding their blood for you, for this motherland,” the militant said in a Telegram post.
Government Response and Ongoing Operations
Pakistani security forces have launched a “full-scale” operation to rescue remaining hostages. Security sources reported that 190 passengers had been freed, while 30 militants were killed in clashes. Helicopters and ground forces have been deployed to the region, and intense firefights have been reported between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar.
A security source reported that 27 BLA fighters have been killed so far in military operations. However, the BLA has denied suffering any casualties. Officials suspect that some militants have fled into the surrounding mountains with an unknown number of hostages.
By Wednesday morning, over 50 rescued passengers were brought to Quetta under armed escort. Emotional scenes unfolded at the railway station as families awaited news of their loved ones.
One distraught woman confronted provincial minister Mir Zahoor Buledi, pleading for her son’s safe return. “I beg you with folded hands, please bring my child back. Why didn’t you stop the trains if they were not safe? If the train was never going to reach its destination, why let it depart?” she said.
A journalist at Quetta railway station reported seeing nearly 100 empty coffins, suggesting authorities were preparing for further casualties.
Rail Services Suspended
In response to the attack, Pakistan Railways has suspended all train services from Punjab and Sindh to Balochistan until security agencies declare the route safe.
Minister Buledi assured the public that the government is taking steps to improve security in the region. However, the incident highlights the persistent instability in Balochistan, where separatist groups have long been engaged in an insurgency against the Pakistani state.
The BLA, one of the most active separatist groups, has intensified its attacks in recent years, targeting government forces and Chinese nationals working on projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
As rescue operations continue, the situation remains tense, with security forces racing against time to secure the release of remaining hostages and neutralise the threat posed by the BLA militants.
