Baloch rebels attack train with 450 passengers; many held hostage

Rescue operation underway as threat to Pakistan’s control over Balochistan highlighted

THE BALOCHISTAN QUESTION

March 12, 2025

IN a dramatic demonstration of their increasing strength, Baloch rebels have pulled off a bold and chilling attack on a train carrying over 450 passengers, including a sizeable number of security personnel.

The high-profile assault is a clear indication that Baloch rebels are gaining ground, and the violence-ravaged province of Balochistan may be slipping further out of Pakistan’s grasp.

On Tuesday, terrorists hijacked the Jaffer Express in a rugged region of Balochistan, triggering an immediate response from the authorities. Security forces launched a large-scale operation to rescue the hostages, resulting in the successful rescue of over 150 passengers by Wednesday afternoon. Official sources confirmed the operation, though the remote location of the attack complicated efforts to bring the hostage situation to an end.

Despite challenges posed by the mountainous terrain of the Bolan Pass, security forces were able to confront the militants in the Dhadar area, killing at least 16 of them. While the total number of casualties remains unclear, reports suggest that at least 10 people, including the train’s driver, lost their lives in the initial assault.

According to security officials, over 150 hostages — including women and children — were freed from the clutches of the assailants, who had fled with the remaining captives into the harsh Bolan range mountains. It remains uncertain whether the freed passengers were liberated through direct military intervention or if they were part of the hostages freed by the rebels.

The operation to recover the remaining hostages and neutralise the attackers continued around the Mushkaf Tunnel area on Wednesday. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had claimed responsibility for the attack, asserting that they had taken a significant number of hostages, including women and children. However, independent verification of these claims has not been possible.

According to railway officials, the Peshawar-bound train departed from Quetta at 9am on Tuesday, carrying 450 passengers across nine carriages. Around 1pm authorities were informed that the train had been ambushed between Paneer and Peshi railway stations, near Railway Tunnel No. 8, close to Mushkaf. The attackers fired rockets at the locomotive, causing it to halt, and opened fire on the train.

The driver was seriously wounded, and an intense firefight ensued between security personnel and the assailants. Reports indicate that several security personnel were killed during the ambush as the militants took control of the train.

The attackers proceeded to check the passengers’ identities and took several hostages before escaping into the mountains.