Pakistan: 50 hostages killed as Balochistan Train siege ends

A violent train hijacking in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province ended in tragedy today (Wednesday), with dozens of hostages killed after insurgents from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) seized the Jaffar Express. The attack, which unfolded in the remote Kachhi district on Tuesday, left Pakistani authorities scrambling to respond as the BLA claimed responsibility for killing 50 hostages during the standoff.

The train, carrying around 450 passengers, was stormed by armed militants who killed six people—including the train driver—during the initial takeover. Pakistani forces launched a counter operation overnight, successfully rescuing 155 hostages amid intense exchanges of fire that left 27 rebels dead. However, the operation concluded with a heavy toll, as officials confirmed the deaths of an unspecified number of passengers still held captive.

“Our operation has entered its final phase. All the militants have been killed, and commandos are now advancing into the rail cars,” a Pakistani official told Germany’s DPA news agency on condition of anonymity. “We don’t yet know the exact number of passenger casualties. We’re still counting the bodies,” they added. Earlier reports indicated that around 190 hostages had been freed, though updated figures from i24NEWS specify 155 rescued.

The BLA, a separatist group advocating for greater control over Balochistan’s resources, issued a statement claiming it executed 50 hostages. Pakistani authorities reported that, at one point, the captors threatened to blow up the train with all remaining passengers onboard, heightening the urgency of the rescue efforts.

The siege has drawn international attention, with experts pointing to long-standing grievances over resource distribution in Balochistan as a driving force behind the BLA’s actions. The province, rich in natural gas and minerals, has been a flashpoint for separatist violence, often targeting infrastructure and government assets.

The full scope of the casualties remains unclear. “This was a brutal attack on civilians, and our forces acted decisively to neutralize the threat,” a Pakistani government spokesperson said, adding that efforts continue to identify victims and secure the area.