BLA’s Daring Jaffar Express Hijack Crushed : Militants Dead, Hostages Saved in Balochistan Showdown

Islamabad (Pakistan) – On March 11, 2025, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, hijacked the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province. The train, carrying around 400-500 passengers, was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar when militants attacked it near the Bolan Pass, blowing up the railway track and opening fire, wounding the driver. The BLA took hostages, including security personnel, and issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners. Pakistan’s security forces launched a counter operation, concluding it by March 12 evening. They killed all 33 BLA militants, rescued 346 passengers, but reported 21-28 passenger deaths and 4-5 military casualties. The attack marked a rare and significant escalation in the ongoing Baloch insurgency against the Pakistani state.