Islamabad – Armed militants have taken control of a passenger train carrying over 450 people in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, holding passengers hostage in an ongoing siege.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The incident occurred in the remote and mountainous Sibi district, where the militants wounded the train driver before storming the compartments.
Train Stopped, Hostages Taken
The Jaffar Express, which had departed from Quetta at 9 a.m. en route to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was attacked around 1 p.m. (0800 GMT) near a scheduled stop.
Senior railway official Muhammad Kashif, based in Quetta, confirmed the hostage situation.
“Over 450 passengers, including women and children, are being held hostage by gunmen,” Kashif told AFP.
The militants detonated an explosive device on the railway track before storming the train, according to a statement released by the BLA.
“The militants swiftly took control of the train and have taken all passengers hostage,” the group claimed, warning of "severe consequences" if security forces attempted a rescue operation.
Emergency Declared as Tensions Rise
An emergency has been declared at hospitals in Sibi, and authorities are on high alert as the train remains stuck near a tunnel, surrounded by rugged mountains.
A senior police official from the area, speaking anonymously, described the terrain as a strategic advantage for the militants, making a rescue operation more difficult.
“The train is trapped in a remote region, surrounded by mountains, which makes it easier for militants to stage attacks and retreat into hideouts.”
Decades-Long Conflict in Balochistan
The attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents linked to separatist insurgents in Balochistan, a resource-rich but impoverished province bordering Afghanistan and Iran.
Militant groups, including the BLA, have long accused the Pakistani government of exploiting the region’s natural wealth while providing little benefit to local communities.
Violence in Pakistan’s western border regions has intensified since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021.
- 2024 was the deadliest year in nearly a decade, with over 1,600 people killed in attacks across Pakistan, according to the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS).
- In February 2025, BLA militants executed seven Punjabi travelers after stopping their bus.
- Last year, at least 39 people were killed in targeted attacks on ethnic Punjabis.
- In November 2024, a BLA bombing at Quetta’s railway station killed 26 people, including 14 soldiers.
Authorities on High Alert
Security forces are assessing their options for a potential rescue operation, but officials remain cautious due to the hostage situation and the risk of further violence.
The government has yet to issue an official response, but intelligence agencies and law enforcement personnel are closely monitoring the situation.
This remains a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
