Militants opened fire on a passenger train in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday, injuring the train driver and triggering panic among passengers, according to media.
The Jaffar Express, carrying approximately 400 passengers in nine bogies, was traveling from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when the attack occurred, railway officials confirmed. Authorities have yet to provide details on the extent of the damage or possible additional injuries among passengers.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, the BLA alleged that they had taken hostages from the train, including security personnel.
Local media reports indicate that the group claimed to have killed six military personnel and was holding hundreds of passenger in the train captive. The BLA issued a warning, threatening to execute all hostages if Pakistan attempted a military rescue operation.
Emergency Measures in Balochistan
The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures, mobilizing all institutions to respond to the crisis, spokesperson Shahid Rind announced. He described the attack as a possible terrorist incident, citing reports of heavy gunfire targeting the train.
Balochistan, a resource-rich but conflict-ridden province, has long been plagued by an insurgency led by separatist groups demanding independence or greater autonomy. The BLA, the largest of these groups, accuses the government of exploiting Balochistan’s vast gas and mineral resources while neglecting the region’s development.
The province has seen repeated attacks on security forces, infrastructure, and civilians in recent years as the insurgency continues to escalate.
Pakistani security forces have launched an operation to regain control of the situation and ensure the safety of the hostages. Authorities are assessing their options carefully, given the BLA’s threat of executing captives if a military intervention is attempted.
The federal government has condemned the attack, calling it an act of terrorism aimed at destabilizing the region. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held an emergency meeting with top security officials to discuss the crisis. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that all efforts would be made to rescue passengers safely and that those responsible would face severe consequences.
