A passenger train carrying over 400 people was hijacked by militants in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Tuesday, with insurgents taking hundreds of hostages in a deadly siege. The attack was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group known for targeting security forces and government infrastructure.
The Jaffar Express, travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, was attacked while passing through the Mashkaf tunnel in the mountainous region of Gudalar and Piru Kunri. Insurgents first detonated explosives on the railway track, forcing the train to stop, before storming the bogies and seizing control of passengers.
A senior police official confirmed that the train remains stationary, with armed men holding passengers hostage. The BLA, in a statement, warned that any rescue attempt would result in severe consequences. The group has demanded the release of political prisoners and missing persons allegedly detained by the military, setting a 48-hour ultimatum.
Reports indicate that among the 425 passengers on board, around 80 are military personnel. The insurgents have also claimed responsibility for killing 30 security personnel, though these figures remain unverified by Pakistani authorities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the attack, calling it an inhumane act. Security forces have launched an operation to rescue the hostages, deploying additional troops and helicopters to the scene. Meanwhile, emergency response desks have been set up at Peshawar and Quetta railway stations to assist concerned families.
The attack comes amid rising violence in Balochistan, where separatist groups have escalated their operations. In November 2024, a bombing at Quetta Railway Station killed 26 people, including 14 soldiers.
