Armed militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched an attack on a passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, injuring several people and taking hostages, according to military sources.
The Jaffar Express, which was carrying hundreds of passengers from Quetta to Peshawar, was targeted in Sibi district, a remote mountainous region. The attackers reportedly bombed the railway track before storming the train.
Authorities have dispatched security forces and helicopters to the scene, but the BLA has warned of “severe consequences” if a rescue attempt is made.
Passengers Held Hostage Amidst Intense Gunfire
Local police told reporters that at least three people, including the train driver, were injured in the attack. A Balochistan government spokesman confirmed reports of “intense firing” as security forces attempted to respond.
According to a senior police official, the train is stranded near a tunnel, surrounded by mountains. Railway officials in Quetta estimate that between 400-450 passengers were onboard at the time of the attack, but it remains unclear how many have been taken hostage.
Some women and children were able to disembark and walk toward the city of Sibi, though their exact numbers remain unknown. Meanwhile, worried families of passengers have gathered at Quetta railway station, seeking information.
Muhammad Ashraf, whose father boarded the train for Lahore on Tuesday morning, told BBC Urdu that he has been unable to contact him since the attack. Officials say they have yet to establish communication with anyone on the train, as the area lacks internet and mobile network coverage.
BLA’s Ongoing Insurgency
The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist group, has waged a decades-long insurgency for independence from Pakistan, frequently targeting railways, police stations, and highways.
Both Pakistan and several Western nations, including the UK and US, have designated the BLA as a terrorist organization due to its history of violent attacks.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and resource-rich province, remains its least developed, fueling longstanding grievances among Baloch nationalist groups.
As security forces work to regain control of the train and rescue passengers, the hostage crisis remains unresolved, with authorities bracing for further escalations.
