Militants Hijack Passenger Train in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province
A train carrying hundreds of passengers was attacked and hijacked by separatist militants in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan on Tuesday. The Jaffer Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was stopped as it reached a tunnel in the mountainous Sibi district, where it came under heavy gunfire. Officials say at least three people, including the train’s driver, were injured in the attack.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group, has claimed responsibility, stating they have taken hostages, including security personnel. The group threatened to execute them if security forces attempted a rescue operation. Government officials have not confirmed the number of hostages but say they are unable to contact passengers or crew due to the remote location’s lack of communication networks.
Security forces, including helicopters, have been deployed to the area, but access remains challenging due to the region’s terrain. An explosion was also reported near the tunnel, and gunfire between militants and security forces continues. The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures and sent a relief train to assist with the situation.
The attack comes amid a decades-long insurgency by Baloch separatist groups, who claim the Pakistani government is exploiting the region’s natural resources while neglecting local development. The BLA, which has previously carried out attacks on infrastructure and Chinese investments in Balochistan, warned of "severe consequences" if authorities attempt a rescue.
As families of passengers await updates at Quetta railway station, officials continue efforts to secure the train and negotiate a resolution. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, stating the government would not bow to “beasts who fire on innocent passengers.”
