Pakistan train hijack: BLA take 214 hostages, over 150 freed in military operation

Jaffar Express attack leaves dozens dead, over 150 hostages freed in military operation

In a major escalation of Pakistan’s separatist conflict, militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express in Balochistan on Tuesday, taking nearly 450 passengers hostage, including women, children, and security personnel.

The BLA, a separatist group seeking Balochistan’s independence, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they had killed more than 30 military personnel and taken 214 hostages, including military and police personnel, whom they described as “prisoners of war.”

The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was ambushed in the Bolan Pass, a mountainous region notorious for insurgent activities. BLA blew up railway tracks and opened fire as the train entered a tunnel, forcing it to a halt.

Hostage crisis and military response

• Over 150 hostages have been freed following a military operation, while 27 BLA militants were killed in a firefight with security forces.
• The train’s driver was critically injured in the attack, while many passengers remained trapped in the tunnel.
• The BLA threatened to execute remaining hostages if the Pakistani military did not halt its operation.
• The group demanded a prisoner exchange, giving Pakistan 48 hours to release Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons, and national resistance activists, or risk the destruction of the train and the execution of the remaining hostages.

Authorities denied the presence of military officers on the train, but unconfirmed sources reported that more than 150 security personnel were on board.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, calling the militants “beasts who fire on innocent passengers.”

Communication and rescue challenges

Rescue efforts have been hampered by Balochistan’s rugged terrain and poor network coverage. More trains were sent to the site to assist in evacuating stranded passengers, while some 70 passengers, including women and children, managed to walk 6km to safety at the Panir railway station.

Hospitals in Quetta and Sibi were placed on high alert, though no injured passengers had been brought in as of Tuesday night.

Why is the BLA intensifying attacks?

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, has long been a hotbed of separatist movements. Despite being rich in minerals and natural resources, the region’s people have felt neglected and exploited by successive Pakistani governments.

The BLA has escalated its activities in recent years, carrying out numerous high-profile attacks, including:

• February 2024 – Killing seven Punjabi travelers on a bus.
• November 2023 – A suicide bombing at Quetta Railway Station, killing 26 people, including 14 soldiers.
• October 2023 – A suicide bomb attack at Karachi Airport, targeting Chinese workers.
  China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – A New Flashpoint

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion megaproject, has exacerbated tensions in Balochistan. The BLA opposes Chinese investments, targeting Gwadar Port and other projects linked to Chinese expansion in the region. Several Chinese citizens have been killed in these attacks.

Military failures and BLA’s growing strength

Security experts argue that Pakistan’s military has failed to contain the BLA insurgency due to:

• Intelligence failures – Security forces struggle to gather accurate intelligence on BLA activities.
• Terrain advantage – The BLA knows the landscape better, while Pakistani troops, mainly from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, are unfamiliar with the region.
• Political instability – Balochistan has had six different chief ministers in the last decade, creating a disconnect between the government and the people.

BLA’s increasing firepower

Analysts believe the BLA’s strength has grown due to access to advanced weaponry, some of which was left behind by US forces in Afghanistan. This has made their attacks more lethal and sophisticated.

Can the Pakistani government stop the BLA’s rise?

Pakistan has announced major military campaigns in Balochistan, but they have yet to materialize. Instead, the government has often launched crackdowns on civilians, leading to more Baloch joining the insurgency.

Experts argue that Islamabad’s reliance on military force rather than political solutions has only widened the divide between the state and the Baloch people.

What’s next?

With the train hijacking crisis still ongoing, Pakistan’s security forces remain locked in battle with the BLA militants. The next 48 hours will be critical, as the government weighs its response to the BLA’s demands.

As Balochistan’s insurgency intensifies, Pakistan faces a deteriorating security situation, with the BLA becoming more organized, deadly, and difficult to suppress.

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