Passenger Train in Pakistan Hijacked by Baloch separatists in Bloody Assault (Video)

Pakistani insurgents opened fire on a passenger train in the southwestern province of Balochistan on Tuesday, injuring the train driver and prompting security personnel aboard the train to return fire. The attack caused the train to come to a halt in a remote area of the Bolan district, and the condition of the passengers was initially unclear.

The Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist group engaged in a long-running insurgency, claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials from Pakistan Railways stated that the Jafar Express was carrying approximately 500 passengers, including women and children, when it was targeted.

A source within the group claimed that six security personnel had been killed and that militants had seized control of the train, though this claim could not be independently verified. The train was en route from the provincial capital, Quetta, to Peshawar when it came under attack. Government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that reinforcements had been dispatched to the area but provided no further details.

Ambulances were deployed to the site, though access to the location was challenging due to the rugged and mountainous terrain. Authorities classified the attack as an act of terrorism, and hospitals in the Bolan district were placed on high alert.

Trains operating in Balochistan are typically escorted by security personnel due to the region’s history of attacks on railway infrastructure and law enforcement. A security official based in Quetta indicated that the militants had deliberately damaged the tracks before the train’s arrival, forcing it to stop in an isolated area, possibly within a tunnel. The official added that the situation remained complex, as communication with the attackers and passengers had not yet been established, and a hostage scenario was considered likely. Security forces were preparing for a major operation to secure the train and ensure passenger safety.

Authorities did not immediately confirm any casualty figures, but emergency response efforts were underway at local hospitals.

In a previous incident in November, the Balochistan Liberation Army carried out a suicide bombing at a train station in Quetta, killing 26 people, including security personnel, railway staff, and passengers. The group has been designated as a terrorist organization by both the Pakistani and U.S. governments.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area but least populated, is rich in natural resources, including oil and minerals. However, the ethnic Baloch minority has long claimed discrimination and exploitation by the central government, fueling ongoing unrest and militant activity in the region.