Pakistan Train Hijacked by Militants with 500 Passengers Onboard

• Baloch militants hijack Jaffar Express, taking hundreds hostage.
• Rebels threaten mass executions if military intervenes.
• Pakistan launches counter-operation amid rising insurgency.

A passenger train carrying approximately 500 people was hijacked by separatist militants in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Tuesday. The militants, belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed to have taken all passengers hostage, warning that executions would begin if military forces attempted an operation against them.

Government officials confirmed that the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was attacked shortly after departing from Quetta. Efforts are underway to establish contact with those on board. According to local media reports, the militants stated that they had derailed the train following intense gunfire, resulting in the deaths of six military personnel. However, railway and provincial authorities have yet to confirm the casualties or the current status of the hostages.

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Pakistani security forces have arrived at the scene, launching a large-scale counter-operation reportedly involving aerial strikes. The militants, however, claim to have successfully repelled the army’s offensive.

“Baloch Liberation Army commanders have completely repulsed the ground operation of the occupying army after capturing the Jaffar Express. Following fierce clashes, Pakistani ground troops were forced to retreat, though aerial bombardment by helicopters and drones continues,” the BLA stated.

Railway officials reported that no communication has been established with the 450 passengers and staff aboard the nine-coach train. Initial reports indicate that several travellers sustained injuries during the attack.

The Jaffar Express was en route from Quetta, Balochistan, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was ambushed. The BLA claims that the hostages include personnel from the Pakistani military, police, Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), all of whom were travelling to Punjab while on leave.

“The BLA issues a clear warning that any military operation will have dire consequences. If the occupying forces attempt an assault, all hostages will be executed, and the responsibility for the bloodshed will rest solely on them,” the group declared in a statement.

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Initially, the militants claimed they had released women, children, and Baloch passengers, leaving only security personnel as hostages. However, a subsequent statement indicated that all passengers remained under their control.

The Balochistan provincial government has imposed emergency measures, mobilizing all institutions to respond to the crisis. Government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that authorities are working to resolve the situation.

This attack comes just days after several Baloch insurgent groups announced an intensified campaign against Pakistan and China under a newly formed alliance called the Baloch National Army. Balochistan, which shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, has long been plagued by insurgency and militant activity. The region has witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents, including an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in the Khuzdar district on March 5 that killed five people and injured five others.

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