A passenger train carrying approximately 500 people was hijacked by armed insurgents in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Tuesday. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the attack on the Jaffar Express, reported taking 182 hostages and alleged that 20 Pakistani military personnel had been killed. The separatist group warned that all hostages would be executed unless security forces withdrew.

Local media cited government officials confirming that the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was ambushed shortly after departing from Quetta. The attack left the train stranded inside a tunnel, with authorities struggling to establish communication with those onboard.

According to the militants, they gained control of the train by forcing it off the tracks following an intense firefight in a remote location. Official sources have yet to verify the number of casualties or the condition of the hostages.

Pakistani security forces swiftly launched a large-scale counter-operation, reportedly involving aerial bombardment. However, the BLA claimed their fighters successfully repelled the military’s ground offensive, forcing government troops to withdraw.

“After capturing the Jaffar Express, Baloch Liberation Army commanders have thwarted the occupying army’s ground operation. Despite intense clashes, Pakistani forces were compelled to retreat, but airstrikes by helicopters and drones continue,” the militant group stated.

Railway officials reported losing contact with the 450 passengers and train staff across its nine coaches. Initial assessments indicated that several travelers sustained injuries during the assault.

To respond to the crisis, the Pakistan Army dispatched a relief train carrying reinforcements, including soldiers and medical personnel, toward the attack site. However, emergency teams encountered difficulties accessing the area due to its mountainous terrain.

The Jaffar Express, which was en route from Quetta in southwestern Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, came under attack near Tunnel No. 8, a remote stretch between the stations of Sibi and Aab-e-Gum, according to reports.

The BLA asserted that the hostages comprised members of the Pakistani military and security agencies, including police, the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The group vowed severe consequences if the government attempted a military operation, stating, “Any offensive will result in mass executions of hostages, and the responsibility for the bloodshed will rest solely on the Pakistani forces.”

The militants claimed they had released women, children, and Baloch passengers while keeping only security personnel captive. According to the BLA, the attack was executed by its elite Majeed Brigade, alongside units from its Special Tactical Operations Squad (STOS) and Fateh Squad.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the attack, stating that the government would not negotiate with “those who target innocent passengers.” Meanwhile, the provincial administration has imposed emergency measures and mobilized all necessary institutions to address the crisis, government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed.

The attack comes amid an escalation in violence by Baloch resistance factions, which recently announced a united front under the name Baloch National Army. These groups advocate for Balochistan’s independence, citing political marginalization and resource exploitation by Pakistan. The region, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has long been a flashpoint for insurgent activity and violent confrontations with security forces.