On March 11, 2025, the Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with approximately 450 passengers, was hijacked by militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in the mountainous region of Balochistan, Pakistan. The attackers sabotaged the train tracks, causing the train to halt within a tunnel, and subsequently took the passengers hostage.
The Pakistani military launched an operation to rescue the hostages, which lasted over 30 hours. During this operation, 354 passengers were freed, while 31 individuals lost their lives, including 23 security personnel, 3 railway staff, and 5 civilian passengers. Additionally, 33 insurgents were killed in the confrontation.
The BLA, a separatist group seeking independence for the mineral-rich Balochistan province, claimed responsibility for the attack. They have a history of targeting Pakistani security forces and infrastructure, as well as Chinese workers involved in regional projects.
Pakistani officials have accused neighboring countries, particularly India and Afghanistan, of supporting the insurgents, allegations that both nations have denied. The BLA has been known to make exaggerated claims regarding their operations, and in this instance, they asserted that their fighters had escaped with 214 hostages and executed all of them, though no evidence was provided to support this statement.
The incident underscores the ongoing instability in Balochistan, a region plagued by insurgencies and frequent attacks. The Pakistani government continues to face challenges in addressing the grievances of the Baloch separatists, who accuse the state of exploiting the province’s resources without adequately benefiting the local population.
