An armed militant group has taken train passengers hostage and wounded the train driver in an attack in Pakistan’s volatile south-western Balochistan province. The attack, carried out by the separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), involved bombing railway tracks and taking control of the train in remote Sibi district.
BLA Claims Responsibility
In a statement claiming responsibility for the assault, the BLA said its gunmen had taken 182 people hostage, including Pakistan army personnel. However, local police officials have put the number of hostages at 35. Earlier reports from senior railway officials to AFP suggested as many as 450 people were initially held captive.
“The BLA further warns that if military intervention continues, all hostages will be executed,” the group stated. Despite these threats, BLA also claimed that civilian passengers—including women, children, the elderly, and Baloch citizens—had been released safely and provided a secure passage.
Train Targeted in Remote Balochistan
The targeted train had departed from Quetta for Peshawar in north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—a more than 30-hour journey—at around 9 am local time. Security forces reported hearing an explosion near a tunnel, and heavy gunfire exchanges with the militants occurred in a mountainous area.
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The BLA, which has long sought independence for Balochistan, alleged that it had killed 20 soldiers and shot down a drone. However, these claims remain unconfirmed by Pakistani authorities.
Emergency Response and Government Reaction
Following the attack, an emergency has been imposed in surrounding hospitals, as confirmed by senior police officials. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, stating that the government would not make any concessions to “beasts who fire on innocent passengers.”
The Balochistan Conflict and Rising Violence
The BLA and other separatist groups have been engaged in an armed struggle against Pakistani authorities for decades, accusing the central government of exploiting Balochistan’s natural resources without benefiting the local population. The region, rich in minerals and gas reserves, has seen increasing foreign investment, which militants claim is further marginalizing locals.
The United States and Pakistan have both designated the BLA as a terrorist organization. Violence in Pakistan’s western border regions with Afghanistan has surged since the Taliban reclaimed power in 2021. More than 1,600 people were killed in attacks in Pakistan in 2024—the deadliest year in nearly a decade—according to the Center for Research and Security Studies, an Islamabad-based analysis group.
Previous Attacks by BLA
This attack follows a series of violent incidents attributed to BLA militants. In February, BLA gunmen executed seven Punjabi travelers after forcing them off a bus. In 2023, at least 39 people were killed in coordinated attacks, primarily targeting ethnic Punjabis. Additionally, in November last year, the BLA claimed responsibility for a bombing at Quetta’s main railway station, which resulted in 26 deaths, including 14 soldiers.
Ongoing Counter-Terrorism Efforts
Pakistani security forces continue counter-terrorism operations in Balochistan to curb separatist insurgencies. However, with militants launching increasingly sophisticated attacks, restoring stability to the region remains a major challenge. The fate of the hostages taken in this latest attack remains uncertain as security forces work to resolve the crisis.
