Armed Militants Hijack Train, Take Hostages in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Armed militants hijacked the Jaffar Express train on Tuesday in Balochistan, taking numerous passengers hostage, according to government and military officials. The attack occurred as the train was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, leaving around 450 passengers onboard.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, stating that they bombed the tracks and halted the train just before Tunnel No. 8 in the Bolan region. The BLA warned that hostages would be executed if authorities attempted to intervene, raising concerns over the use of women and children as human shields during the ongoing conflict.

Pakistani police confirmed that at least three individuals had been injured, including the train driver, during the attack. Emergency forces have been deployed to the scene, and helicopters are assisting with rescue efforts, though the remote terrain hinders access.

“The situation is extremely tense, and we cannot confirm the number of hostages yet,” said Muhammad Kashif, the railway controller in Quetta. “The train has been stuck for hours, and there are reports of intense gunfire.”

Witnesses stated that around 60 passengers managed to escape the train and reached the nearby Panir Railway Station, where they sought refuge. Families of other passengers anxiously gathered at the Quetta railway station, waiting for information. “I haven’t heard from my father since he boarded,” said Muhammad Ashraf, a passenger’s son.

Communications with the trapped train have been nearly impossible. The area surrounding the incident lacks reliable mobile network coverage, complicating efforts to communicate with those onboard.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, is rich in natural resources yet remains underdeveloped. The BLA has long been involved in a violent insurgency against the Pakistani government, claiming that the state’s actions exploit local resources while diminishing the rights of the Baloch people.

In 2025, the Global Terrorism Index reported a sharp increase in terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan, with the BLA identified as one of the main contributors. Recent attacks have targeted security forces, resource-rich projects, and involuntary representatives of the government.

The current hostage situation follows a series of violent incidents initiated by the BLA, which has escalated in recent months, particularly after the development of China’s Gwadar port in the province. Local militants argue that projects such as these have only intensified the impoverishment of the Baloch people.

Authorities are taking the matter seriously, and the provincial government has directed all available resources to resolve the incident. As of late Tuesday, the train and hostages remained in control of the militants, with ongoing firefights reportedly taking place.