When a Train Ride Turns into a Battlefield: Attack on Jafar Express in Pakistan

A routine train journey turned into chaos as armed separatists attacked Pakistan’s Jafar Express. Explosions, gunfire, and hostages—railways in crisis zones are more than just transport links; they’re battlegrounds.

The struggle for Balochistan’s independence isn’t confined to the mountains—it extends onto the railways. For armed groups, disrupting train services cripples both civilians and state operations. The Jafar Express became yet another example of how quickly a routine trip can spiral into chaos. The attack was swift and brutal—an explosion on the tracks, gunfire, hundreds of hostages, and a relentless battle between militants and security forces. It played out like a scene from an action film—but this was no fiction.

Train Hijacking in Pakistan and the Tragic Fate of Passengers

According to Reuters, in the Pakistani province of Balochistan, fighters from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched an armed assault on the Jafar Express, which runs between Quetta and Peshawar. As Pakistan Today reported, as the train entered a tunnel in the remote mountainous district of Balochistan, militants detonated explosives on the tracks and opened fire on the train. Armed with rockets, grenades, and rifles, the attackers took passengers hostage. Security officials reported that the militants separated law enforcement personnel from other passengers and led them in small groups into the mountains.

According to The Hindu, the BLA issued an official statement threatening to kill the hostages if Pakistan failed to meet their demands. They called for the release of their fighters and the recognition of their political demands for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan. According to their claims, they killed 20 Pakistani security and railway workers and shot down a drone.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that the government would make "no concessions to terrorists." The Pakistani army launched a large-scale counterterrorism operation, deploying special forces, helicopters, and ground troops to rescue the hostages and eliminate the attackers. Initially, the separatists had taken 450 hostages. The counterterrorism operation successfully freed 350 passengers. The rescue unfolded just hours after the militants claimed to have executed 50 hostages, in addition to the 10 people they killed immediately when the train was ambushed on Tuesday. They also killed 10 Pakistani soldiers in a gunfight and 30 others who resisted. In total, the separatist attack resulted in approximately 100 casualties.

Baluch freedom fight has taken new turn with Jaffar Express incident!#Balochistan #jaffar_express #Pakistan #Afghanistan #India pic.twitter.com/QxLBSW0G6Q

— North East West South (@prawasitv) March 13, 2025

Who Are the BLA?

According to The Conversation, BLA is the largest separatist armed group in the region. For decades, it has fought against the Pakistani government, accusing it of exploiting natural resources and oppressing the Baloch people. The BLA has targeted Pakistani military forces, government institutions, and foreign investments, particularly those linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Their ultimate goal is an independent Balochistan, separate from Pakistan, and they view their actions as part of a national liberation struggle.

Al Jazeera notes that Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, rich in oil and mineral resources. However, many Baloch nationalists argue that Islamabad reaps the economic benefits while local communities remain impoverished. The BLA and other separatist groups have long accused Pakistan of conducting enforced disappearances, military crackdowns, and extrajudicial killings to suppress dissent.

In November 2024, a suicide bombing at Quetta railway station killed 26 people, as reported by France 24. This attack was one of many in recent years, proving that Balochistan’s separatists can strike major transportation hubs even in large cities. Both Pakistan and the United States classify the BLA as a terrorist organization, with estimates suggesting it has around 3,000 fighters, while Baloch groups claim their actions as a legitimate struggle against occupation.

Sources: Reuters; Pakistan Today; The Conversaion, France 24; BBC News