In a dramatic escalation of the ongoing insurgency in Balochistan, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has hijacked the Jaffar Express, taking 182 hostages and claiming to have killed 20 Pakistani military personnel. The separatist group has threatened to execute all hostages if security forces do not retreat.
Jaffar Express Under Siege, Tracks Blown Up
The Jaffar Express, carrying around 500 passengers, was en route from Quetta in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was ambushed. Armed militants derailed the train after an intense shootout at a remote location, trapping it inside a tunnel.
The BLA, in a statement, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they had taken control of the train after disabling the railway tracks. The group declared that they had repelled a Pakistani military counter-operation, forcing the forces to retreat.
“If the occupying forces attempt any military operation, the consequences will be severe. All hostages will be executed, and the responsibility for this bloodshed will lie solely with the occupying forces,” the BLA warned in a statement.
Security Forces Mobilized, Heavy Clashes Reported
Pakistani security forces have reached the site, launching a counter-operation reportedly involving aerial bombings. However, the militants claimed that their commanders had completely repulsed the ground offensive.
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Railway officials confirmed that no contact had been established with the 450 passengers and staff aboard the train. Initial reports suggest that multiple travelers were wounded in the attack. The Pakistan Army has dispatched a relief train carrying reinforcements, doctors, and ambulances, though access remains difficult due to the rugged terrain.
Balochistan Government Declares Emergency
The provincial government has imposed emergency measures, mobilizing all institutions to handle the crisis. Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the attack, stating that the government would not make any concessions to “beasts who fire on innocent passengers.”
The attack comes days after Baloch resistance groups announced a unified militant front, the Baloch National Army, vowing an intensified campaign against Pakistan and Chinese interests in the region. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has long been a hotbed of insurgency, with separatists demanding independence and a fair share of its vast mineral wealth.
The situation remains tense as security forces weigh their options in the face of the hostage crisis. The next few hours will be critical in determining the fate of the passengers and the broader security situation in the region. Further updates are expected soon.
