Tragic train hijacking in Pakistan ends with 21 passengers dead, 33 militants killed

A tense standoff aboard the Jaffar Express came to a deadly conclusion on March 12 when Pakistani security forces launched a final assault, killing all 33 separatists and rescuing hundreds of passengers.

The crisis began when Baloch militants ambushed the train in Balochistan, detonating explosives and taking hostages, demanding the release of prisoners. The train, carrying 440 passengers, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was attacked.

As commandos closed in on the militants, they systematically neutralized the separatists. The operation successfully freed a large number of hostages, but tragically, it also resulted in the deaths of 21 passengers and four security personnel, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry praised the careful planning of the operation, stating, “Today we freed a large number of people, including women and children … The final operation was carried out with great care.” He emphasized that no civilians were harmed during the final phase of the mission.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which took responsibility for the attack, had sabotaged the train tracks and fired rockets at the Jaffar Express. Prior to the military's announcement, the BLA claimed it had killed 50 passengers on the evening of March 12 and was holding 214 hostages, including several security personnel. The militants had warned the government that hostages would be executed unless their demands — primarily the release of Baloch political prisoners — were met within 48 hours.

According to Talal Chaudhry, the junior interior minister, the separatists had disguised themselves among the hostages, wearing explosive vests to complicate the rescue efforts. He estimated that 70 to 80 attackers participated in the hijacking.

Survivors described the terror of the attack. Muhammad Ashraf, a 75-year-old passenger, recalled the moment of impact: "I heard a powerful explosion in the mountainous area, which shook the entire train."

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest and least populated province, is rich in oil and minerals. It is also home to the country’s Baloch ethnic minority, which has long accused the central government of discrimination and exploitation. The region shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan and has been a hotbed of insurgency, with separatists demanding more autonomy and a fairer share of the province’s resources.

Both Iran and Pakistan have been troubled by insurgencies along their shared border, with mutual accusations of supporting or tolerating militant groups. Iran has asked Pakistan for help in combating the militant group Jaish al-Adl, while Pakistan seeks Iranian cooperation in denying sanctuary to BLA fighters.

Train travel is common for military personnel travelling between Quetta and other regions of Pakistan. Last November, the BLA carried out a suicide bombing at a Quetta train station, killing 26 people.

By Tamilla Hasanova