Pakistan’s military concluded a harrowing 48-hour standoff with separatist militants who had hijacked the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, freeing all hostages in a bloody operation.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) seized the train carrying over 450 passengers on Tuesday, leading to a fierce confrontation that claimed the lives of 28 soldiers and numerous insurgents. This article delves into the dramatic rescue, the human cost, and the broader implications of this unprecedented attack in Pakistan’s restive southwest.
The sun had barely risen over the rugged mountains of Balochistan on Tuesday, March 11, when the Jaffar Express, en route from Quetta to Peshawar, ground to a halt near the Mushkaf Tunnel. What began as a routine journey for nearly 500 passengers—men, women, and children—quickly spiraled into a nightmare. Armed militants from the Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist group fighting for independence in Pakistan’s largest province, detonated explosives on the railway tracks, forcing the train to stop. Within moments, dozens of gunmen stormed the carriages, firing indiscriminately and taking hundreds hostage. The BLA, designated a terrorist organization by Pakistan, the US, and the UK, had struck again, this time with a bold and unprecedented tactic.
Eyewitness accounts paint a chilling picture of the initial chaos. “We heard a loud explosion, and then gunfire was coming from everywhere,” recounted Ishaq Noor, a passenger who survived the ordeal, speaking to the BBC. “We held our breath, not knowing what would happen next.” The militants, numbering between 70 and 80 according to Pakistan’s Junior Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry, separated men from women and checked identity cards to single out security personnel and passengers from outside Balochistan. For the BLA, this was not just a random act of violence but a calculated strike against the Pakistani state, which they accuse of exploiting their resource-rich province.
As news of the hijacking broke, Pakistan’s security forces sprang into action. Helicopters buzzed overhead, and hundreds of troops descended on the remote mountainous terrain. The military launched a “full-scale operation” to reclaim the train and rescue the hostages, but the situation was far from straightforward. The BLA had positioned suicide bombers wearing explosive vests among the captives, using women and children as human shields. “The terrorists are ruthless—they don’t care about innocent lives,” a security official told Radio Pakistan, explaining the delicate balance the forces had to strike between swift action and minimizing civilian casualties.
By Wednesday morning, March 12, the operation had reached its climax. After intense clashes that stretched into the second day, the military announced that all hostages—reportedly numbering 346 by the latest count—had been freed. The cost, however, was staggering. Twenty-eight Pakistani soldiers lost their lives in the firefight, a grim testament to the ferocity of the encounter. The BLA claimed to have executed dozens of hostages, including 50 security personnel, though official figures confirmed 27 civilian and military hostages killed before the rescue was complete. On the militant side, at least 35 gunmen were neutralized, with some reportedly fleeing into the mountains with a handful of captives before being hunted down.
The freed passengers, many of whom endured hours of terror, shared stories of resilience and horror. Muhammad Bilal, one survivor, struggled to find words for the experience. “They shot soldiers right in front of me,” he told News18, his voice trembling. “I thought we’d never make it out.” Another passenger, Allahditta, described how the militants allowed his family to leave after he pleaded that he was a heart patient, a rare moment of mercy amid the brutality. For those who escaped, the journey to safety was arduous—some walked for hours through treacherous terrain to reach nearby stations, where they were met with relief and medical care.
Pakistan’s leadership responded with a mix of resolve and mourning. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack as a “cowardly act” by “beastly terrorists” who, he vowed, would face justice. “These enemies of Balochistan’s development will not be spared,” he declared, praising the security forces for their bravery. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed this sentiment, calling the militants “enemies of Pakistan” and decrying their targeting of innocent travelers. Yet, beneath the official rhetoric, questions lingered about how such a large-scale attack could occur undetected, especially given the BLA’s escalating activities in recent months.
The BLA’s demands during the siege added another layer of complexity. The group issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening to execute hostages unless the government released Baloch political prisoners and activists they claim were abducted by the military. Jeeyand Baloch, a BLA spokesperson, reiterated their willingness to free civilians in exchange for concessions, but Pakistani authorities dismissed the proposal outright. “We do not negotiate with terrorists,” a government spokesman asserted, a stance that underscored the military’s decision to opt for a forceful resolution over dialogue.
This train siege is the latest in a string of high-profile attacks by the BLA, which has intensified its insurgency in Balochistan over the past year. The province, rich in natural gas and minerals, has long been a flashpoint of unrest, with separatists accusing the central government of plundering its resources while neglecting its people. In November 2024, the BLA bombed Quetta’s main railway station, killing 26, including 14 soldiers. Last year alone, over 1,600 people died in attacks across Pakistan’s border regions, making it the deadliest year in nearly a decade, according to the Centre for Research and Security Studies. The train hijacking, however, marks a new level of audacity, signaling a shift in tactics aimed at maximizing disruption and fear.
For the people of Balochistan and beyond, the siege has left deep scars. At Quetta railway station, relatives of the passengers gathered in anguish, some clutching empty coffins as they awaited news. A grieving mother confronted provincial minister Mir Zahoor Buledi, her voice breaking: “Why didn’t you stop the trains if they weren’t safe? Please bring my child back.” Her plea encapsulated the frustration and helplessness felt by many, as well as the growing distrust in the state’s ability to protect its citizens. In response, Pakistan Railways suspended all services to and from Balochistan for three days, pending a security clearance—a move that underscores the gravity of the situation.
The international community has also taken note. The United States and United Kingdom, both of which classify the BLA as a terrorist group, expressed solidarity with Pakistan, with officials condemning the attack as a senseless loss of life. Analysts, however, warn that the incident could further destabilize an already volatile region. Zahid Hussain, a Pakistani security expert, called the hijacking “unprecedented,” noting that it highlights the military’s mounting challenges in containing the insurgency. “The situation in Balochistan is becoming untenable,” he told The Guardian. “This attack shows how far the BLA is willing to go.”
As the dust settles, the focus shifts to the aftermath. The military continues its sweep of the area to ensure no militants remain, while investigators piece together how the BLA orchestrated such a complex operation. For the survivors, the trauma lingers—images of gunfire, blood, and desperate cries etched into their memories. The loss of 28 soldiers and numerous civilians is a stark reminder of the human toll of this conflict, one that pits a determined separatist movement against a state struggling to assert control.
In the end, the freeing of all hostages from the Jaffar Express is a bittersweet victory. It showcases the courage of Pakistan’s security forces, who risked—and in many cases gave—their lives to save others. Yet, it also lays bare the deep-seated tensions fueling Balochistan’s unrest, tensions that no single operation can resolve. As the nation mourns its fallen and tends to the wounded, the question looms: how many more such tragedies must unfold before peace finds a foothold in this troubled land? For now, the Jaffar Express siege stands as both a triumph of resilience and a sobering call for answers.
