Bolan, Pakistan, March 11, 2025 — In a daring and lethal operation, militants associated with the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express train in the Balochistan province on Tuesday. The group claimed to have killed twenty Pakistani soldiers. They took 182 hostages, comprising both military personnel and civilians.
Details of the Attack
The Jaffar Express was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with about five hundred passengers when it was ambushed in the mountainous Bolan district. Militants set off explosives on the railway tracks, which forced the train to stop within a tunnel.
Following this, armed assailants boarded the train and opened fire, injuring several passengers and the driver.
The BLA quickly took responsibility for this act. In their statement, they insisted that their fighters controlled the situation aboard the train and confirmed taking one hundred eighty-two hostages, including military staff. They issued threats of serious repercussions should security forces attempt any rescues.
Casualties and Hostage Count
Reportedly, the BLA reported that twenty soldiers were killed during this confrontation. However, official channels have not verified this claim.
The total number of hostages is also under debate. Shahid Rind, spokesperson for Balochistan’s government, acknowledged the occurrence but refrained from providing specific data regarding casualties or hostage counts.
Government Response and Rescue Strategies
Security forces have been dispatched to tackle this crisis. However, challenges posed by difficult terrain and limited communication infrastructures impede immediate rescue efforts. Authorities are formulating strategies to secure a safe release for hostages while keeping further casualties to a minimum.
Emergency protocols have been activated as all related institutions mobilize to confront this urgent situation.
The Balochistan Insurgency
This current hijacking represents a serious escalation in the tactics of BLA. In August 2024, coordinated attacks by BLA caused more than 70 casualties. Among those were civilians and security personnel.
Increasingly, it targets construction projects and foreign investments linked to China, claiming it stands for local opposition to external exploitation of resources. The hostage situation has given rise to serious humanitarian concerns. Reports say that the hijackers took women, children, and the elderly among the passengers.
International Reactions
The BLA claimed they had freed these more vulnerable individuals, which has yet to be verified. The fate of the remaining captives is uncertain, and should they be mishandled in any rescue operations, there might be fears of escalation.
The Pakistani government, however, has condemned the attack as terrorism aimed at destabilizing the country, promising to bring the perpetrators to justice and calling for national unity to face such threats. The incident has triggered discussions about enhancing transportation security measures and addressing the core causes of the Balochistan insurgency.
This hijacking incident of the Jaffar Express reminds us of the ever-expanding problems that Pakistan continues to confront. Meanwhile, the authorities will concern themselves with delicate operations.
This incident casts serious doubt over the extent to which, in Balochistan, concrete measures will have to be taken to stabilize the whole region.
