Pakistan Train Hijacking: BLA Militants Kill 21 Hostages Before Security Forces End Siege

BLA militants hijacked a passenger train in Balochistan, killing 21 hostages before Pakistani security forces eliminated all 33 attackers. Survivors described a harrowing ordeal as gunmen executed passengers selectively. The military operation successfully rescued the remaining 440 passengers, highlighting the ongoing insurgency in Pakistan’s largest province.

In a brutal attack in Balochistan, Pakistan, militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked a passenger train, killing 21 hostages before security forces launched a counter-operation, eliminating all 33 attackers. The train, carrying 440 passengers, was ambushed in the mountainous region of Mach, southwest Pakistan.

According to officials, the militants detonated explosives on the railway tracks, forcing the Jaffer Express to halt inside a tunnel. Armed men stormed the train, checked passengers' identity cards, and selectively executed soldiers while sparing women, children, and elderly passengers. Survivors recounted harrowing moments of being ordered out of the train, with some being executed on the spot.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the military swiftly acted, ensuring no further loss of civilian lives during the rescue mission. The province's chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, praised the armed forces for neutralizing the attackers and preventing further bloodshed.

Eyewitnesses described moments of terror as gunmen seized control of the train, separating passengers based on their identities. Some survivors managed to escape into the rugged mountains, walking for hours before reaching safety. Others remained hidden inside the carriages, only to witness militants storming in and shooting indiscriminately.

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and least populated province, has been a hotspot for insurgency. The BLA, a separatist militant group, has long fought for greater autonomy and a larger share of the region’s natural resources. While the militants initially demanded negotiations, security analysts believe their shift from targeting military personnel to civilians could erode their support base.

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Rescued passengers have been relocated, while injured survivors were transported to Quetta for medical assistance. Authorities continue to investigate the attack, reinforcing security measures across railway routes.