The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has hijacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train carrying nearly 500 passengers, and is holding over 100 individuals hostage. The train was en route from Quetta in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when the incident occurred.
Planned Attack on Railway Track The BLA claims that its specialized units, including the Majeed Brigade, STOS, and Fateh Squad, carried out a coordinated attack in Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan. The group blew up the railway track, forcing the train to halt, after which its fighters took control of the train and the passengers onboard.
Threats Against Military Intervention In a statement, the BLA warned the Pakistani army against any attempt to intervene, threatening to kill the hostages if such action is taken.
“Any ensuing casualties would be the sole responsibility of the Pakistani military,” the group stated. It further emphasized that any military response would be met with an equally forceful reaction.
Hostages Include Security Personnel Among the hostages, the BLA has identified active-duty personnel from the Pakistani military, police, Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), all of whom were traveling to Punjab on leave.
Separate Abductions in Balochistan In a separate development, three Baloch individuals, including a retired teacher, a retired doctor, and a local resident, were reportedly abducted by Pakistani security forces in Barkhan, Balochistan. This incident has further fueled tensions in the region.
The situation remains highly volatile as authorities assess their response to the hostage crisis.
