Pakistan Train Hijack LIVE Updates: All 33 BLA militants, 21 passengers, 4 soldiers killed, says Army

"346 hostages were freed and over 30 terrorists were killed during the operation," an army official told AFP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media.

When asked if the operation had ended with all militants killed, the DG ISPR confirmed, "Yes, all present terrorists there have been sent to hell, and their total number was 33." He further stated that no passengers were harmed in the final clearance operation, but before that, "the number of passengers who fell victim to the barbarism of the terrorists is 21."

“These militants were in contact with their supporters and masterminds in Afghanistan during the operation via satellite phone. You saw that around 100 passengers were safely rescued yesterday evening from the terrorists, and today as well, a large number of passengers have been recovered,” Pakistan Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said, adding that the process continued intermittently.

All passengers taken hostage by militants in southwestern Pakistan have been freed, a military official was quoted as saying by the news agency AFP. The official stated that 346 hostages were rescued, while more than 30 militants were killed during the operation. The attack resulted in the deaths of 28 soldiers, including 27 off-duty personnel who were traveling on the train and one soldier killed during the operation.

His reaction comes a day after the incident took place.

"Spoke with Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti who briefed me on the latest developments in the heinous terrorist attack on Jaffar Express. The entire nation is deeply shocked by this dastardly act and saddened by the loss of innocent lives—such cowardly acts will not shake Pakistan’s resolve for peace," he said.

"I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs. May Allah grant them the highest ranks in Jannah and bless those injured with a swift recovery. Dozens of the terrorists have been sent to hell," he added.

Pakistani authorities announced Wednesday that an insurgent attack on a train carrying hundreds of passengers had ended, with all attackers killed after a daylong standoff. Some hostages lost their lives, though officials did not provide details. Security forces rescued over 300 hostages, and operations continued. Officials, speaking anonymously as they were not authorized to brief the media, said separatists had attacked the train carrying around 450 passengers on Tuesday in a tunnel in a remote area of southwestern Balochistan province.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has warned the Pakistan government that it has only 24 hours left to negotiate a prisoner exchange, as the group continues to hold control over the Jaffar Express and more than 200 hostages.

In a press release issued today, the BLA stated that if no concrete steps are taken within this final deadline, all hostages will be tried in the Baloch National Court.

The group had initially given Pakistan a 48-hour ultimatum for a prisoner swap. However, citing the government's refusal to engage and alleged delay tactics, the BLA now claims that the opportunity for negotiations is running out. The statement also accused the Pakistani government of hypocrisy and a lack of commitment to ensuring the safety of its own military personnel.

China on Wednesday condemned the hijacking of a passenger train by militants in Pakistan's Balochistan province and expressed willingness to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation with Islamabad.

"We noted the reports and strongly condemn this terrorist attack," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during a media briefing in response to a question about the attack by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). She emphasized that China firmly opposes terrorism in all forms.

The Jaffar Express, carrying around 400 passengers in nine coaches, was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar when militants derailed it using explosives and took control of the train. Security forces have rescued 190 passengers so far and killed 30 militants, as operations against the insurgents continued for a second day on Wednesday.

"We will continue to firmly support Pakistan in combating terrorism, maintaining solidarity and social stability, and protecting the safety of the people," Mao stated.

She further added, "China stands ready to strengthen counterterrorism and security cooperation with Pakistan and jointly keep the region peaceful, secure, and stable."

“It felt like doomsday. There was panic everywhere. The attackers did not harm women or elderly passengers. There were more than 100 armed assailants,” Muhammad Ashraf, one of the passengers told reporters, ARY News reported.

The militant group responsible for the deadly train siege has intensified its attacks in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province over the past year. The Baloch Liberation Army, the most active faction in the region, continues its armed struggle for independence in the resource-rich province.

On Wednesday, Pakistani forces launched a "full-scale" operation to rescue train passengers taken hostage by militants in the mountainous southwest. Security sources reported that 155 passengers had been freed in the past 24 hours. The train, carrying over 450 passengers, was seized by militants at the entrance of a tunnel in a remote frontier district, with an unknown number of hostages still in captivity.

"Information suggests that some militants have fled, taking an unknown number of hostages into the local mountainous areas," a security official in the area was quoted as saying by the news agency AFP.

190 hostages freed, 30 militants killed in Pakistan train seige, news agency AFP reported, quoting sources

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) responsible for hijacking a Peshawar-bound passenger train in Pakistan's Balochistan province have reportedly released a video showing how they carried out the attack and took the passengers hostage.

The first visual showed the dramatic moment when they detonated an explosive on the railway tracks, forcing the Jaffar Express to come to a sudden halt. The train was carrying over 400 passengers.

The video showed thick plumes of black smoke billowing from the train’s engine as chaos unfolded. The Times of India could not independently identify the authenticity of the video.

Pakistani security forces exchanged gunfire Wednesday with hundreds of separatist militants as they worked to free about 300 hostages who were still on a train after it was attacked in the country’s rugged southwest, officials said.

Security forces were being cautious as officials said the hostages were surrounded by militants wearing vests loaded with explosives. Government spokesman Shahid Rind said Pakistani forces were being backed up by helicopters in the remote region and described the attack as “an act of terrorism.”

At least 27 militants have been killed and security forces rescued more than 150 of the 450 people who were on the train when it was hijacked on Tuesday as it entered a tunnel in Bolan, a district in restive Balochistan province. It was the first time militants have ever carried out such an attack.

The Baloch Liberation Army group has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was open to negotiations to swap prisoners. So far, there has been no response from the government to the offer from the insurgents.

BLA spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said in in a statement on Tuesday night that the group was ready to free passengers if the government agrees to release the group’s jailed militants. Since then, no government officials have been available for comment. Such demands have been rejected in the past.

The BLA regularly targets Pakistani security forces, but has also in the past attacked civilians, including Chinese nationals working on multibillion-dollar projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC.

According to security sources, the terrorists have positioned suicide bombers wearing suicidal vests very close to some innocent hostages.

In anticipation of possible defeat, the terrorists are using innocent people as human shields and the suicide bombers have taken women and children hostage at three different locations, they said.

Due to the presence of women and children with the suicide bombers, the operation is being conducted with utmost caution.

The security sources said the operation by security forces to eliminate the remaining terrorists is continuing.

There was a huge explosion and firing, a scene that can never be forgotten, said Mushtaq Muhammad as he recounted the moment when Baloch militants attacked a passenger train in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province. Mushtaq is among 104 passengers rescued from the train that came under attack when armed men intercepted the Jaffar Express in a tunnel near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri in the Bolan area on Tuesday afternoon.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Some passengers claimed that the attackers told them that they were releasing Baloch, women, children and elderly people, however, government officials claimed they rescued over 100 of them.

The train, with around 500 passengers on board in nine coaches, was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when it came under attack.

Pakistan security said on Wednesday they had freed 155 hostages from around 450 passengers while killing 27 militants as a Pakistan train siege in restive Balochistan province entered a second day, news agency AFP reported citing sources.

"Security forces have safely rescued 155 passengers... 27 terrorists have been eliminated," a security source said, adding the operation was still "ongoing".

West Asia Strategist Waiel Awwad expressed his views on the Pakistani media reports of Jaffar Express train attack in Balochistan.

He said, "Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed the hijacking of a Pakistani train with more than 100 soldiers. They have been releasing the children and the elderly woman and are negotiating with the Pakistani authorities. Balochistan feels that Pakistan has occupied and annexed Balochistan province into Pakistan after the Partition. They believe that they have been oppressed. All the oppression of the Baloch people led to their fighting against the Pakistan Army."

He further added, "There is a call by the Baloch movement all over the world to join the demonstration on 28 March to fight against the Pakistan authority. There are some exchanges of fires. Pakistan army is using drones and military force."

Explaining the possible reasons for the attack, Awwad highlighted how since 1947 Balochistan has been struggling for Independence and over the course of years, the Baloch people are suffering from enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, amongst other issues at the hands of the army.

Pakistan local media, earlier on Tuesday, reported that the Jaffar Express train was on its way from Quetta in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it came under intense firing in Balochistan.

Pakistan security forces were set to launch a "full-scale operation" on Wednesday to free train passengers taken hostage by militants, including suicide bombers, officials said.

Separatist militants bombed part of a railway track and stormed the train with more than 450 passengers on board on Tuesday afternoon, in southwest Balochistan province where violence has been rising.

Dozens of hostages have been freed and three people killed, including the train driver, since the attack erupted in Sibi district.

"A full-scale operation is planned for the morning to rescue the train hostages and others," a security official in the area told AFP.

The official said that forces "faced challenges due to the darkness of night".

"We are taking precautions to avoid any actions that could endanger civilian hostages," he added.

Security sources said the "terrorists have positioned suicide bombers right next to innocent hostage passengers".

Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi announced late Tuesday that "more than 100 hostages" have been free, while security sources said those included "58 men, 31 women and 15 children".

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has issued a threat to execute ten Pakistani hostages in response to drone strikes and artillery shelling carried out by Pakistani forces during an ongoing hostage crisis in Balochistan's Bolan district, The Balochistan Post reported.

In a statement to the media, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch condemned Pakistan's military actions, labeling them as “irresponsible and foolish military aggression.” He claimed that the drone strikes and artillery shelling targeted positions held by BLA fighters near the hijacked Jaffar Express train.

According to the report, BLA also stated that these attacks demonstrated Pakistan's “incapability of making serious decisions regarding a prisoner exchange” and accused the authorities of being “driven solely by war madness and stubbornness.”

How did the attack unfold?

The attackers, identified as members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), blew up the railway track, forcing the train to stop in a remote area. They then boarded the train and took control, separating men from women.

"People began hiding under the seats in panic. The militants separated the men from the women. They allowed me and my family to go because I told them I'm a heart patient," said Allahditta, a 49-year-old passenger.

Who is responsible?

The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, continuing its insurgency against the Pakistani state. The group has escalated violence in Balochistan, targeting civilians and security forces.

Casualties and rescue efforts

The train driver, a police officer, and a soldier were killed in the attack. Security forces continued operations overnight, with reports of heavy gunfire. "The clearance operation is ongoing," security sources confirmed.

Why is Balochistan a conflict zone?

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but poorest province, has long been home to separatist movements.

Militants claim that the region’s natural resources are exploited by outsiders, leaving little benefit for locals. Violence has intensified since the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of harboring militants—an allegation the Taliban denies. In 2013, Balochistan saw highest militant violence in nearly a decade.

In the autumn of 2018, Punjab-bound Jaffar Express had narrowly escaped twin blasts after Baloch rebels attempted to blow up the passenger train using remote-controlled explosive devices.

The devices had exploded when the train was about 200 feet away. Tuesday’s attack isn’t an isolated incident. The train often carries personnel of Pakistani forces from Quetta to Punjab and vice versa, making it a hot target for groups like Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan).

In 2023, the train was attacked twice in two months and at the same spot. On Jan 19, at least 13 people were injured after a bomb blast derailed the train when it was passing through Bolan district, around 150 km away from Quetta. About a month later, another blast was reported on the train heading from Quetta to Peshawar, killing at least one passenger and injuring a dozen.

In Nov last year, at least 26 persons were killed and over 40 were injured, including women and children, in an explosion at Quetta railway station.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack and called for the immediate release of the hostages, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Pakistani security forces have killed at least 16 militants during an operation to rescue hostages after a train attack in the Kacchi district of southwestern Balochistan province, security sources said.

The operation, launched late Tuesday, forced the attackers into small groups, leading to intense gunfire exchanges between security forces and the militants, the sources told Xinhua early Wednesday.

Security forces successfully freed 104 hostages, including 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children. At least 17 injured passengers have been taken to a nearby hospital, while efforts continue to secure the safe release of the remaining passengers, the sources added.

"Additional security personnel have joined the ongoing operation. The noose around the terrorists has tightened, and the operation will continue until the last militant is eliminated," the sources said.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and least populated province, is rich in oil and minerals. It is home to the country’s ethnic Baloch minority, many of whom claim they face discrimination and exploitation by the central government.

Separatist groups have previously launched deadly attacks on trains in the region. In November, a separatist group carried out a suicide bombing at a train station in Quetta, killing 26 people.

Pakistani authorities and analysts estimate that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has around 3,000 fighters. While the group primarily targets Pakistani security forces, it has also attacked civilians and Chinese nationals working on multibillion-dollar projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

The BLA has significantly enhanced its operational capabilities, suggesting access to increased funding and weaponry, according to Abdullah Khan, a senior defense analyst and managing director of the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.

In the autumn of 2018, Punjab-bound Jaffar Express had narrowly escaped twin blasts after Baloch rebels attempted to blow up the passenger train using remote-controlled explosive devices. The devices had exploded when the train was about 200 feet away.

Ethnic Baloch insurgents hijacked a passenger train in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province Tuesday, killing at least 20 soldiers and taking 182 hostages in a remote mountainous area. Banned separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for South Asia’s first train hijack by militants.

BLA warned of “severe consequences” if security forces attempted a rescue operation. “If the Pakistani military attempts to approach, all hostages will be executed,” it said in a statement.

Three people were killed, and approximately 100 hostages were freed on Tuesday as Pakistani troops responded to an armed militant attack on a train carrying over 450 passengers in southwestern Balochistan province, reported AFP

The exact number of people still on board remained unclear as security forces continued operations overnight.

Before seizing the train on Tuesday afternoon, the militants detonated explosives on the railway track, bringing the train to a stop in a remote area.

Train services between Quetta and Peshawar had only recently resumed after a month-and-a-half-long suspension. Last November, a suicide bombing at Quetta Railway Station killed 26 people and injured 62, prompting authorities to halt several train operations.

A Pakistani railway official has told news agency AFP that a soldier, a police officer and a train driver were killed in the Pakistan train attack.

The BLA has accused Pakistan of annexing Balochistan against the will of its people, claiming that the region's former ruler, the Khan of Kalat, was forced to sign the instrument of accession in March 1948. The group, which is classified as a terrorist organization by both the US and Pakistan, has waged a long-running insurgency against the Pakistani government, demanding independence for Balochistan, a province rich in natural resources.

Pakistani troops freed 80 train passengers taken hostage by a separatist militant group in restive southwestern Pakistan, news agency AFP and Pakistan news outlet Samaa TV said quoting security sources.

"Security forces have successfully freed 80 hostages, including 43 men, 26 women, and 11 children, from the terrorists," news agency AFP said quoting sources, adding that "efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe release of the remaining passengers".

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) said that it took control of the train by derailing it. The group claimed to have killed six security personnel and detained over 100 people, including security forces.

However, Pakistani authorities did not respond to these claims.

"Pakistan's army and government have no control over Balochistan. In such a situation, it is not surprising that all this is happening. Pakistan is on the verge of breaking up," he said.

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.

BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana criticized Pakistan's approach to security and infrastructure development. He questioned the country's progress since Independence, stating, "What has Pakistan done till date? It gained Independence along with India, but did not build infrastructure. They have always created problems. Sometimes in Punjab, sometimes in Kashmir, sometimes in Afghanistan. They did not pay attention to their people."

Nearly 350 passengers are believed to be safe after train attack in Pakistan, news agency Reuters reported quoting local police

Balochistan has witnessed a prolonged insurgency led by separatist militant groups, including the BLA. These groups frequently target the Pakistani government, military, and Chinese investments in the region, demanding a greater share of Balochistan’s resources.

The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures in response to the attack. Government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that security forces have been mobilised to tackle the situation. Reports indicate that security personnel have engaged in an exchange of fire with the militants, but the hostage crisis remains unresolved.

The Baloch Liberation Army has warned that all hostages will be executed if Pakistani security forces attempt any military intervention. The group stated that it had released women, children, and Baloch passengers, leaving only security personnel as hostages. The militants also claimed to have killed 20 soldiers and shot down a drone during the attack.

The militants launched their attack near Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan district, targeting Tunnel Number 8. They blew up the railway track, causing the Jaffar Express to derail. Controller Railways Muhammad Kashif confirmed that the train was stopped inside a tunnel by armed men, leaving passengers trapped. The difficult terrain, consisting of 17 tunnels, enabled the militants to take advantage of the situation.

A passenger train, Jaffar Express, was attacked by separatist militants in Balochistan on Tuesday, leaving its driver injured and causing a mass hostage situation. The train, carrying about 400 passengers, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it came under fire. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which seeks independence for Balochistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it has taken over 100 people hostage, including security personnel.