Pakistan Train Hijack: Baloch Militants Seize Jaffar Express, Kill 6, Take 120 Hostage

Separatist insurgents of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Tuesday, wounding the train driver and taking more than 100 passengers hostage, according to reports.

The train, which had approximately 120 passengers on board, was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar when it was attacked in Bolan, news agency Reuters reports.

Militants Claim Responsibility

The BLA released a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, announcing that its militants conducted a “meticulously planned operation” in Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan. “Our freedom fighters have blown up the railway track, forcing the Jaffar Express to come to a halt. The fighters swiftly took control of the train, holding all passengers hostage,” announced the militant group.

Six Pakistani soldiers have been reported dead by the BLA, as per the BLA. The organization also threatened that any military operation will lead to the killing of all the hostages. “If the occupying forces attempt any military operation, the consequences will be severe. All hundreds of hostages will be executed, and the responsibility for this bloodshed will lie solely with the occupying forces,” read the statement.

Targeted Hostages and Military Presence

The terrorists asserted that the hostages included Pakistani military officials and security agency members, such as police, the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The BLA stated that they had freed women, children, and Baloch passengers, leaving only active military personnel in their hands.

Railway authorities verified that the assault took place during the journey to Peshawar, and the provincial administration immediately imposed emergency regulations. “All institutions have been mobilized to address the situation,” said government spokesman Shahid Rind. Security forces have now reached the location to handle the situation.

Escalation of Separatist Offensive

The attack comes in the wake of the newly formed Baloch National Army (BNA), a consolidated militant group of multiple Baloch resistance organizations. BLA’s special forces—Majeed Brigade, STOS, and Fateh Squad—carried out the operation and threatened to attack any military invasion. “Any military incursion will be countered with an equally strong response,” the group issued a warning.

BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch confirmed, “So far, six military personnel have been killed, and hundreds of passengers remain under BLA custody.”

Until now, Pakistani authorities have not yet confirmed the number of casualties or given further information on the status of the hostages. The situation is tense as security forces try to bring the crisis to an end.