In a dramatic train hijacking in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, all hostages held by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants have been rescued by the Pakistani military. The operation, which began on March 11, 2025, and lasted until the following day, resulted in the death of 33 militants, while 28 soldiers lost their lives in the process. The train, the Jaffar Express, was ambushed in the Bolan Pass, approximately 160 kilometers from Quetta, while carrying over 450 passengers. The BLA militants used explosives to derail the train and then stormed the carriages, taking passengers hostage.

Details of the Hostage Crisis

The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, which was followed by the release of a video showing the explosion and the gunmen emerging from the surrounding mountainous terrain. According to military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif, the terrorists used women and children as human shields, which delayed the rescue operation. Despite these challenges, approximately 100 hostages were freed on March 11, and the rest were rescued during the final clearance phase of the operation.

The operation, led by the Pakistani Army, with assistance from the Air Force, Frontier Corps, and Special Services Group commandos, was executed with extreme caution to avoid further civilian casualties. The snipers first neutralized suicide bombers, followed by a compartment-by-compartment sweep of the train. Thankfully, no passengers were harmed during the final phase of the assault.

BLA Militants and Foreign Nexus

The operation also revealed troubling information about the BLA’s connections, as the militants were reportedly in constant contact with their handlers in Afghanistan via satellite phones. This suggests a foreign nexus behind the attack, which security forces are continuing to investigate. In addition to the hostages, authorities are also working to trace passengers who fled during the chaos of the hijacking.

Official Reactions

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the efforts of the security forces, highlighting their success in rescuing the hostages and eliminating all militants. He condemned the terrorist attack, calling it “tragic and heartbreaking”, and condemned the militants’ use of women and children as human shields. Naqvi also emphasized that terrorists and their facilitators would be dealt with an iron hand.

The BLA has been linked to a series of attacks in the past, particularly targeting security personnel and ethnic communities in Balochistan, accusing them of exploiting the region's resources. The army has warned that the hijack marks a shift in tactics, signaling an escalation in attacks, and vowed to pursue all those involved in this incident.

Ongoing Operations

As the investigation continues, security forces are conducting area clearance operations and have deployed bomb disposal squads to inspect the hijacking site. The military remains committed to ensuring that all terrorist networks involved in the train hijacking are brought to justice, and it is clear that this tragic event will lead to a renewed focus on tackling BLA militants and their foreign connections.

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