An earlier photo captures the Jaffer Express moving through southwest Pakistan. CNN
A violent attack in Pakistan’s Balochistan province left at least 10 people dead after separatist militants hijacked a passenger train on Tuesday. Security officials confirmed that nine of those killed were security personnel, along with the train driver. The attack took place on the Jaffer Express, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar.
Gunmen stopped the train at a tunnel in the Bolan region and opened fire. Authorities reported heavy gunfire, and security forces quickly surrounded the attackers. Reports say militants used women and children as shields, making the rescue operation more difficult.
The train, carrying around 450 passengers, had nine coaches. By Tuesday night, security forces had freed 104 hostages, including men, women, and children. Injured passengers were taken to the hospital, and the rescue mission continued for those still held by militants.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group warned in a statement that they would execute hostages if security forces attempted an operation. Despite this, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti vowed to continue the operation “until the last terrorist is eliminated.” By nightfall, officials reported that security forces had killed 16 militants and injured several others. The remaining attackers were surrounded, and authorities were working to bring the situation under control.
Balochistan’s mountainous region made access to the train difficult. The Pakistani government sent emergency response teams and a relief train to assist passengers.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack. He said the terrorists’ actions during Ramadan showed they had no connection to Islam, Pakistan, or Balochistan.
Junaid Ahmed, a resident of Quetta, shared his distress as his cousins were on the hijacked train. "When I found out, I lost contact with them," he said, adding that railway officials also struggled to get updates.
Authorities had issued a warning just days before the attack. A letter from Balochistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department had alerted officials about a planned attack by the BLA, urging strict security measures.
Balochistan has struggled with a long-running insurgency. The conflict intensified after the province’s Gwadar port was leased to China as part of a major infrastructure project. Militants accuse the government of exploiting the region’s resources while locals remain poor. The BLA has carried out some of Pakistan’s deadliest attacks in the past year, often targeting security forces and Chinese workers.
This latest attack has once again highlighted the security crisis in Balochistan. The government faces increasing pressure to curb militant activity and protect civilians from further violence.
