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

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.

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.