Separatist militants attacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train carrying about 500 people in Balochistan, southwestern Pakistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, stating they derailed the train, killed 30 security personnel, and took 214 passengers, including active-duty soldiers, as hostages.
The BLA's claim has not been independently verified. Local police stated that militants have taken 35 passengers hostage, while around 350 others are believed to be safe.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the attack, issued a 48-hour ultimatum. They threatened to execute the hostages unless Baloch political prisoners, activists, and missing persons detained by the Pakistani military are freed. The group also warned that continued military intervention would lead to the execution of all hostages and the complete destruction of the train.
Provincial government and railway officials have not confirmed the hostage situation. The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was attacked when it got trapped in a tunnel. Gunmen opened fire, killing the train driver.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, stating security forces were "repelling" the militants. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also denounced the attack, calling the militants "beasts" for targeting innocent passengers.
In response to the attack, the Balochistan government enacted emergency measures, with security forces exchanging fire with militants to rescue passengers. The region has long faced an insurgency led by separatist groups like the BLA, who accuse the government of exploiting Balochistan's gas and mineral resources without benefiting the local population.
