Pakistani security forces are gearing up for a “full-scale operation” on Wednesday to rescue dozens of passengers still held hostage aboard the Jafar Express train, which was hijacked by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants in southwest Pakistan. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, saw militants blow up a railway track, derail the train, and engage in heavy gunfire, leaving the driver dead and trapping 450 passengers in a tense standoff.
The Jafar Express was traveling from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it came under attack. According to railway and police officials cited by The New York Times, the militants forced the train to a halt in the Bolan district after opening fire. The train became trapped inside Tunnel Number 8—one of 17 tunnels in the rugged terrain—after the BLA detonated explosives on the tracks, causing a derailment. “The train was stopped by armed men in Tunnel No. 8,” said Muhammad Kashif, Controller Railways, in an official statement.
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The assault began with an exchange of gunfire between the militants and security personnel aboard the train. The driver was fatally wounded during the clash, and the BLA swiftly took control. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind reported “heavy gunfire” targeting the slow-moving train between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar, an area where the mountainous landscape provided cover for the attackers.
As of Wednesday, security forces have rescued 155 passengers, but the operation to free the remaining hostages continues. The BLA, a prominent ethnic armed group in the resource-rich province, has claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting it is holding 214 people hostage. However, a security source told Reuters that the train was carrying 425 passengers at the time of the hijacking, while Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway official in Quetta, told AFP the number exceeded 450. Exact figures remain unconfirmed amid the chaos.
The militants have escalated the crisis by positioning suicide bombers wearing “suicide jackets” next to some hostages, according to Reuters, citing unnamed sources. The BLA has issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening to execute hostages unless the Pakistani government releases Baloch political prisoners, activists, and individuals they claim were abducted by the military.
Pakistan’s security forces reported that 27 militants have been killed in the ongoing clearance operation, though the total number of attackers remains unclear. The military’s response has been hampered by the challenging terrain and the presence of explosives, with the derailed train still lodged in the tunnel.
The BLA, the largest of several separatist groups in Balochistan—a province bordering Afghanistan and Iran—has long fought against the Pakistani government, accusing it of exploiting the region’s mineral wealth while neglecting its people. Tuesday’s attack marks a significant escalation in their insurgency, drawing international attention to the volatile region.
As the standoff continues, authorities are racing against the clock to neutralize the threat and secure the safe release of the remaining passengers. Updates on the operation are expected as the situation unfolds.
Key Points:
- Hijacking Incident: On Tuesday, BLA militants hijacked the Jafar Express train, carrying approximately 450 passengers, as it traveled from Quetta, Balochistan, to Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in southwest Pakistan.
- Attack Details: The militants blew up a railway track at Tunnel Number 8, derailing the train and trapping it inside the tunnel. They opened fire on the train, killing the driver during an exchange with security personnel.
- Hostage Situation: The BLA took control of the train, holding dozens of passengers hostage. Estimates of hostages vary, with the BLA claiming 214, while a security source reported 425 passengers were onboard, and a railway official cited over 450.
- Suicide Bombers: Militants have positioned suicide bombers wearing “suicide jackets” next to some hostages, escalating the threat.
- Security Response: Pakistani security forces have rescued 155 passengers and killed 27 militants so far. A “full-scale operation” is planned for Wednesday to free the remaining hostages.
- BLA Demands: The BLA claimed responsibility and issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening to execute hostages unless Baloch political prisoners, activists, and alleged abductees are released by the government.
- Terrain Challenges: The attack occurred in a rugged area with 17 tunnels, aiding the militants’ ambush of the slow-moving train between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar in the Bolan district.
- Ongoing Operation: Clearance efforts continue a day after the hijacking, with heavy gunfire reported and the train still derailed in the tunnel.
- Context: The BLA, a major separatist group in mineral-rich Balochistan, accuses Pakistan’s government of exploitation, making this attack a significant escalation in their insurgency.
