Pakistan Train Hijack: 150 hostages rescued, 27 BLA militants killed after attack on Jaffar Express in Balochistan

At least 27 militants were killed, and 150 hostages were rescued by Pakistani security forces after the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) insurgents hijacked the Jaffar Express in Balochistan’s Kacchi district on Tuesday, officials said. 

The attack took place when armed militants intercepted the train inside a tunnel while it was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. The insurgents blew up the tracks, forcing the train to a halt, and killed the locomotive driver. The train, carrying more than 400 passengers, had recently resumed operations after a month-long suspension. 

The BLA has claimed responsibility for the attack, demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners and threatening further retaliation. While the group denies suffering any casualties, it claims to have killed 30 soldiers—an assertion that Pakistani authorities have not confirmed.

Eyewitnesses recount moments of terror

Passengers onboard described the chaos. “We were shouting, and some just laid down. I also did the same; everyone lay down to save their lives,” one survivor said,according to news agency IANS. Explosions and gunfire followed as the militants took control.  

Security forces engaged in intense gunfights with the attackers, who reportedly split into small groups to evade capture. Officials said the militants are in contact with facilitators in Afghanistan, an allegation Pakistan has repeatedly made against the Taliban regime.   

A makeshift hospital has been set up in Mach to provide medical assistance to the rescued passengers. Meanwhile, emergency response desks have been established at railway stations in Peshawar and Quetta to assist families of those still held hostage.  

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BLA issues threats; hostage situation remains critical

The BLA initially set a 48-hour deadline, threatening to “completely destroy” the train and execute 10 hostages in response to the military operation. Reports suggest that suicide bombers remain inside with hostages, complicating the ongoing rescue efforts.  

Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces remain among Pakistan’s most volatile regions, with separatist and militant groups frequently targeting security forces. Pakistani authorities have blamed cross-border support from Afghanistan for the increasing insurgency.  

(With Inputs from Agencies)