A passenger train in southwestern Pakistan’s Balochistan province was attacked by separatist militants on Tuesday, injuring the train driver and leading to a hostage situation.
The Jaffar Express, carrying about 400 passengers in nine bogies, was traveling from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was fired upon. Separatist militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack and said they had taken over 100 people hostage, including Pakistan military, police, and ISI personnel.
Also read: Baloch militants issue ‘all hostages will be executed’ warning – What we know so far
How attack unfolded?
After coming under fire, the train became trapped inside a tunnel. The militants took control of the train after exchanging fire with security personnel. The driver was wounded in the firing.
Baloch militants blew up the railway track on Tunnel Number 8, causing the train to derail. “The train was stopped by armed men in Tunnel No 8,” the Controller Railways Muhammad Kashif said in a statement.
The terrain, which has 17 tunnels, allowed the militants to take advantage of the slow-moving train. Security forces reached the site in the Mushqaf area of Bolan district. “There are reports of intense firing at a Jaffar Express, which was heading from Quetta to Peshawar, between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar,” Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said.
In a statement, the BLA said it had taken hostages from the train, including security personnel. The group warned that the hostages would be executed if security forces did not withdraw.
Balochistan has seen a long-running insurgency by separatist militant groups. These groups frequently attack government, army, and Chinese interests in the region, demanding control over the province’s gas and mineral resources. The BLA, the largest of these groups, seeks independence for Balochistan.
