Militants Hold 450 Train Passengers Hostage in Pakistan

A group of armed militants stormed a passenger train in Balochistan’s mountainous region, taking 450 passengers hostage and wounding the train driver in an ongoing siege.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that its fighters bombed the railway track before taking control of the train.

The train, Jaffar Express, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was halted near Sibi district, a rugged area near the Afghan and Iranian borders.

Passengers, Including Women and Children, Held Hostage

Authorities have declared an emergency at hospitals in Sibi, while security forces assess the situation.

BLA Threatens Consequences for Rescue Attempts

In a statement to the media, the BLA issued a warning, threatening severe consequences if security forces attempt a rescue operation.

A senior official from Sibi, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the train as "stuck before a tunnel surrounded by mountains," making military intervention challenging.

Balochistan: A Long-Standing Conflict Zone

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most impoverished province, has been the site of a decades-long insurgency led by Baloch separatist groups, including the BLA.

Militant factions claim that the region’s vast natural resources, including gas and minerals, are being exploited by outsiders, with little benefit to the local population.

Rising Violence in Western Pakistan Since 2021

Pakistan has seen a sharp increase in militant attacks since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021. The western border regions with Afghanistan, from north to south, have become hotspots for insurgent activity.

According to the Center for Research and Security Studies, Pakistan recorded over 1,600 deaths from militant attacks in 2024, marking it as the deadliest year in nearly a decade.

Previous BLA Attacks in Balochistan

The BLA has conducted multiple high-profile attacks in recent years:

• February 2025 – Militants killed seven Punjabi travellers after ordering them off a bus.

• 2024 – 39 people were killed in coordinated attacks, primarily targeting ethnic Punjabis.

• November 2024 – The BLA bombed Quetta’s main railway station, killing 26 people, including 14 soldiers.

Pakistan’s Struggle Against Insurgency

The Pakistani military and security forces have been battling insurgent groups in Balochistan for years. However, the rugged terrain and cross-border militant networks have made it difficult to curb violence.

This latest hostage crisis underscores the ongoing security challenges in Balochistan and raises concerns over Pakistan’s ability to counter separatist militancy in the region.

 

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