Suspected gunmen from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) unleashed chaos on Tuesday by attacking a passenger train in Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province. The assault on the Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with roughly 500 passengers across nine coaches, left several injured and sparked a tense standoff. The BLA claimed it derailed the train, killed six security personnel, and took over 100 people—including security forces—as hostages.
The attack unfolded between Gudalaar and Piru Koneri, where the train came under heavy gunfire. The BLA, a banned outfit in Pakistan, the U.S., and the UK, issued a chilling warning: any military rescue attempt would result in the execution of all captives. Pakistani officials have yet to confirm the group’s claims, leaving the status of passengers—including women and children—uncertain.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind reported “intense firing” on the train, while security and rescue teams rushed to the rugged site. Local hospitals, including Sibi’s, declared emergencies to handle the wounded. Authorities confirmed the train driver was gravely injured, and a relief train was deployed to assist.
“The assailants halted the train in Tunnel No. 8,” said Muhammad Kashif, Controller of Railways. With 17 tunnels dotting this slow-moving stretch, the terrain poses challenges for both the railway and the ongoing security operation. Sources suggest the attackers blew up part of the track before opening fire, targeting the engine and clashing with onboard security personnel.
Geo News, citing security insiders, reported that the militants seized control of the train inside a tunnel. Communication with the crew remains severed due to the area’s lack of mobile or telephone coverage, complicating rescue efforts. Security forces vowed to pursue the attackers until the last one is neutralized, though the difficult landscape is slowing progress.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denounced the assault, calling the perpetrators “beasts” unfit for mercy. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur echoed the outrage, labeling the attack on civilians “cowardly and ruthless.”
The provincial government ordered urgent action, with rescue operations underway and medical facilities on high alert. Official casualty figures remain unavailable, but early reports indicate injuries among passengers and the train driver.
Balochistan has long been a hotspot for insurgency, with the BLA frequently targeting infrastructure and security forces. The group has a history of attacking railway lines in the region with rockets and bombs. Just last October, train services between Quetta and Peshawar resumed after a prolonged halt due to similar threats. In November 2024, a suicide bombing at Quetta’s railway station claimed 26 lives, underscoring the province’s escalating violence.
Bordering Iran and Afghanistan, mineral-rich Balochistan remains a flashpoint for unrest. Insurgent groups like the BLA often strike at government targets and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a $60 billion initiative, as part of their separatist campaign.