How Baloch Liberation Army Hijacked Jaffar Express From Quetta- wna24

Baloch rebel fighters have hijacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, taking hundreds of people hostage in Pakistan ’s restive Balochistan province. The attack occurred in Bolan district, where armed men stopped the train inside Tunnel No. 8, according to railway authorities.

Railway sources confirmed that more than 400 passengers were on board when the rebels stormed the train on Tuesday. Some reports suggest the number may be closer to 500.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a rebel group fighting for Baloch independence, claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, the BLA asserted that six Pakistani military personnel had been killed. The group also confirmed that security forces were among those taken hostage, warning that any military rescue operation would be met with retaliation.

There has been no immediate response from Pakistan’s military.

The attack highlights the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan, where Baloch rebels have waged a decades-long struggle against the Pakistani state. The province, rich in natural resources, has been at the center of armed resistance as Baloch nationalists demand independence from Islamabad.

Security in Balochistan has further deteriorated in recent years, with rebels frequently targeting military personnel, infrastructure, and foreign investments—especially Chinese projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $62 billion initiative.

Despite repeated military crackdowns, Baloch fighters have continued their operations. Just last month, at least 18 Pakistani soldiers were killed in a BLA attack in Balochistan’s Kalat city.

The Jaffar Express attack follows a pattern of growing assaults on railway infrastructure in Balochistan. In October, Pakistan resumed train services in the region after a two-month suspension caused by another BLA attack on railway tracks. The 1,600 km (994-mile) train route from Quetta to Peshawar takes more than 30 hours to complete, with over 30 stops along the way.

Railway Controller Muhammad Kashif stated that authorities are making efforts to contact passengers and staff on board the hijacked train.

The situation in Balochistan has been described as “alarming” by security analysts. A recent report by the Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) noted a sharp 119% increase in attacks across the province last year. The Jaffar Express hijacking further underscores the challenges Islamabad faces in controlling the rebellion.