In a shocking escalation of the Baloch insurgency, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for hijacking the Jaffar Express in the Mashkaf region of Bolan, Balochistan. The separatist group has taken control of the train, taking over 100 hostages, including personnel from Pakistan’s armed forces and intelligence services (Reuters, March 11).
In an official statement, the BLA announced that the operation is being conducted by its Majeed Brigade Fidayeen Unit, with operational support from their specialised units–the Fateh Squad, STOS, and the intelligence wing Zirab–who derailed the train before engaging in heavy combat. They claim to have killed six military personnel till now, while repelling an initial assault by Pakistani Ground Forces, forcing them to retreat (EurAsian Times, March 11). The BLA further warned that any attempt at military intervention would lead to the execution of the hostages.
Attack on the Jaffar Express Train
The Jaffar Express, which was carrying approximately 500 passengers across nine bogies, according to Controller Railways Muhammad Kashif, was en route from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was ambushed. Eyewitnesses reported heavy gunfire as the militants opened fire on the train, injuring the driver and halting its journey. The train was ambushed inside Tunnel No. 8, a mountainous region that has provided strategic cover for the attackers, who were allegedly also in contact with their external handlers, further complicating security forces’ counter-operations (Dawn, March 11a; @KazmiWajahat/X, March 11).
Image 1: Screengrab of video showing the attack on Jaffar Express
Source: @MalikAliiRaza/X
While railway and provincial authorities have not officially confirmed the hostage situation, the BLA insists that all hostages are serving personnel from the Pakistani military, police, Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) who were travelling home on leave. Women, children, and Baloch passengers were reportedly released unharmed, with the group asserting that their operation specifically targeted security forces of the “occupying state.”
Government Response and Emergency Security Measures
In response, an emergency relief train carrying Pakistani soldiers and medical personnel has been dispatched to assist those affected by the attack, and rescue teams are now stationed at the site (India Today/X, March 11; Reuters, March 11). As a precautionary move, authorities have also temporarily suspended the Karachi-bound Bolan Mail at Sibi (Daily Times Pakistan, March 11).
Hospitals across Balochistan have been placed on high alert. Emergency protocols have been implemented at Sibi Hospital, with the provincial government urging the public to remain calm. Government spokesperson Shahid Rind stated that the scale of the attack and the potential involvement of terrorist elements are still being assessed. Additionally, the Civil Hospital Quetta has declared an emergency, with Pakistan’s Health Department Spokesperson, Dr Waseem Baig, confirming that all medical personnel, including doctors, nurses, consultants, paramedics, and support staff, have been summoned to manage the crisis (Dawn, March 11a; News18, March 11).
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack, stating, “The beasts who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions.” Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar echoed this sentiment, declaring that the “heinous plans of anti-national and anti-social elements will never be allowed to succeed.” He reaffirmed the Sindh government’s full support for Balochistan in bringing the situation under control (Dawn, March 11a). Furthermore, critics have also condemned the timing of the attack, noting that targeting civilians during Ramadan demonstrates the BLA’s ruthlessness. Pakistani journalist Wajahat Kazmi posted on X, “These terrorists have no connection to Islam, Pakistan, or Balochistan–targeting innocent passengers during Ramadan proves their barbarity.”
A Protracted Insurgency
The attack underscores the enduring Baloch insurgency, a long-running struggle by separatist militants seeking independence from Pakistan. The BLA, the most notorious of these groups, has frequently targeted security forces and infrastructure, accusing Islamabad of plundering Balochistan’s vast natural resources while neglecting local development.
Notably, and ironically, just a day before the hijacking, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram raised the issue of cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan while addressing the UN Security Council in New York. He accused the Kabul administration of failing to curb groups such as Al-Qaeda, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the BLA’s Majeed Brigade, which he claimed operate from Afghan soil (Dawn, March 11b).
This latest crisis raises urgent questions about Pakistan’s ability to contain the Baloch insurgency. As the standoff unfolds, the coming hours will be crucial in determining the fate of the hostages and the government’s strategy in handling the BLA’s demands. With tensions at a boiling point, whether Pakistan opts for military force or negotiation, this event marks another turning point in its fight against separatist insurgencies.
Disclaimer: This is a developing story.
