Pakistan Train Hijack: 20 Terrorists Killed as Military Battles Baloch Insurgents

Karachi - In a chilling display of insurgent defiance, militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express on March 11, turning a routine train journey into a harrowing hostage crisis. The passenger train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was ambushed in Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province, leaving nearly 400 passengers at the mercy of armed insurgents.  

The attackers crippled the tracks, engaged in fierce gunfire with security forces, and took control of the train. Among the hostages, approximately 100 individuals have been freed, but the militants claim over 100 security personnel remain captive. In a chilling ultimatum, they have threatened to execute the detainees if their demands for the release of Baloch political prisoners are not met within 48 hours.  

This brazen act underscores the long-standing unrest in Balochistan, where separatist insurgents claim oppression and resource exploitation by the state. The BLA, considered a terrorist organization by Pakistan and several Western nations, has intensified its attacks in recent years, signaling a worsening security crisis.  

Pakistan’s military is in a race against time, attempting to rescue the remaining hostages, but the rugged terrain and the militants’ use of suicide vests pose severe challenges. As the standoff unfolds, the world watches in anticipation—will Pakistan reclaim control, or will this crisis mark another chapter of escalating insurgency? The fate of hundreds hangs in the balance.