Pakistan Train Attack LIVE Updates: Siege ends with 21 hostages dead, PM Sharif says attack won’t shake resolve for peace

Pakistan Train Attack Today Live News Updates: Separatist militants launched an attack on the Jaffar Express, a passenger train carrying around 500 people in southwestern Pakistan's Balochistan province on Tuesday.

Pakistan Train Attack Today Live News Updates: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expressed grief and shock over the attack on Jaffar Express train, saying that “such cowardly acts will not shake Pakistan’s resolve for peace.” Pakistani army confirmed the end of the rescue operation, stating that 33 militants and 21 hostages were killed, while over 300 passengers were rescued, PTI reported. Separatist militants launched an attack on the Jaffar Express, a passenger train carrying around 500 people in southwestern Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Tuesday. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for derailing the train, asserting that they had seized control, killed 50 security personnel, and taken 214 passengers, including active-duty personnel, as hostages, according to the Reuters reports. However, their claims have not been independently verified.

Militant demands: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the separatist militant group, which claimed responsibility for the attack issued a 48 hours ultimatum, stating that they would execute the hostages if Baloch political prisoners, activists and missing persons abducted by the Pakistani military are not freed. It also warns that if military intervention continues, all hostages will be executed and the train will be completely destroyed. On Wednesday evening, before the army’s announcement, the BLA claimed it had killed 50 passengers. Earlier, a junior government minister stated that 70-80 attackers had hijacked. The train was targeted while traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, when it got trapped in a tunnel and gunmen opened fire, killing the train driver, according to Reuters.

Government response: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, saying security officials were “repelling” the militants. Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, strongly condemned the attack, calling the militants “beasts” for targeting innocent passengers. In response to the attack, the Balochistan government implemented emergency measures to manage the crisis. Security forces engaged in an exchange of fire with the militants as efforts were made to contain the situation and rescue the passengers, Reuters reported. The region has long been plagued by an insurgency led by separatist groups such as the BLA, who claim that the government exploits Balochistan’s rich gas and mineral resources without fair distribution to the local population.

Live Updates
21:03 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: PM Shehbaz calls for national unity, dialogue against terrorism

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday urged national unity and dialogue to combat terrorism in the wake of the Jaffar Express hijacking in Balochistan’s Bolan district.

During a one-day visit to Quetta, Shehbaz chaired a high-level meeting with federal ministers and security officials to assess the situation. Addressing a press conference afterward, he stressed the need for political and military leaders to come together.

“One challenge, in my view, is that there should have been complete unity on this [incident], but unfortunately, there is a gap,” he said, Dawn reported.

Emphasising consensus, he vowed to equip security forces with the necessary resources and called for a consultative meeting to determine the next steps.

“National unity and solidarity are needed more than ever. We will continue our politics, but on the crucial issue of saving the country from terrorism, we must stand as one,” the prime minister asserted.

19:10 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Calls related to Jaffar Express hijacking traced back to Afghanistan: Pak foreign ministry

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said that the country had evidence of calls related to the Jaffar Express hijacking being traced to Afghanistan but reaffirmed its stance that India was attempting to “destabilise its neighboring countries, ” Dawn reported.

During a weekly press briefing today, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan was questioned whether Pakistan had a shift in stance from India to Afghanistan over involvement in terrorist attacks on Pakistan.

In response, he said, “There is no shift in our policy. And again, the facts have not changed. India is involved in sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan. What I was referring to was, in this particular incident, we have evidence of calls being traced to Afghanistan. This is what I said.”

17:08 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif slams Imran Khan's party for spreading 'fake narrative' regarding train attack

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday slammed jailed former premier Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party for spreading a "fake narrative" regarding the deadly terrorist attack on a train in Balochistan.

Speaking in the National Assembly, Asif accused PTI-affiliated social media accounts of misrepresenting the tragic incident and undermining national unity by promoting misinformation, instead of acknowledging the sacrifices made by the armed forces in the rescue operation. “What's more upsetting is the way PTI's social media interpreted the situation,” he said.

“In yesterday's tweets, and otherwise as well, they target the armed forces. When the armed forces impose martial law, then they stand with them,” Asif said, recalling that Khan supported Pervez Musharraf in his 2002 referendum.

Asif said Pakistan would emerge victorious in the war on terrorism with the nation's support for the armed forces. (PTI)

16:56 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Stability not possible until govt based on public trust is established in Pakistan, says Imran Khan

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan has said that stability will not be possible until a government based on public trust is established across the country, including in Balochistan.

"Military operations are never the solution to problems. Even major wars have been resolved through negotiations and efforts for peace and stability," he said, expressing concern over the situation in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

In Balochistan, the militants hijacked a train carrying 440 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar on Tuesday. The militants killed 21 passengers and four paramilitary soldiers before the Army eliminated all 33 terrorists at the scene on Wednesday.

In a post on X on Wednesday, Khan said Pakistan's foreign policy is being handled in the worst possible manner, just like its internal affairs. "Our border with Afghanistan is extensive, and matters with them should be resolved through dialogue. Peace in the country will remain elusive unless our foreign policy with neighbouring countries is independent and sovereign," he said.

The 72-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder further said that terrorism has once again taken root in the country. (PTI)

14:03 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Pakistan PM visits survivors

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif traveled to Balochistan to meet survivors of the deadly train attack and the commandos who rescued over 300 passengers. The military stated that the attack was “orchestrated and directed by terrorist ring leaders operating from Afghanistan,” a claim Kabul denies. Authorities have arranged for the victims' bodies to be transported to their hometowns, while the injured are receiving medical care.

12:23 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif to visit Quetta

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Quetta to assess the security situation following the Jaffar Express hijacking, Geo News reported. The visit follows a military operation that eliminated 33 Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants who took over 400 passengers hostage.

12:21 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Deadly Pakistan train siege ends as security forces kill militants

Pakistani security forces killed all 33 militants involved in the hijacking of a passenger train in Balochistan. The attack by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) left 21 hostages and four security personnel dead before the rescue operation began.

The militants, armed with rocket launchers and guns, stormed the Jaffar Express on Tuesday, targeting passengers based on their region and executing some on the spot. Survivors said they had little to survive on during the ordeal. Security forces launched a large-scale operation involving special troops and helicopters to regain control of the train.

12:14 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Pakistan Army hunts for missing passengers

Pakistan’s military is continuing its search operation in Balochistan to locate any missing passengers after a hijacked train was rescued, reported BBC. Some militants are believed to have escaped with an unknown number of hostages into the surrounding mountainous region. Officials are also trying to account for passengers who fled the train during the attack, as per BBC.

11:17 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: 25 hostages killed before rescue operation, says army

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) killed 21 civilian hostages and four military personnel before Pakistan’s army launched its rescue operation, a military spokesperson said, as per BBC. The militants had threatened to execute more hostages if authorities did not release Baloch political prisoners within 48 hours.

09:47 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Pakistan army rescues over 300 hostages from hijacked train

Pakistan’s army has freed more than 300 hostages from a passenger train hijacked by militants in Balochistan, a military spokesperson said, as per BBC. The rescue operation, which lasted over 30 hours, resulted in the deaths of 33 militants. Authorities are continuing search operations in the area to locate any remaining militants and missing passengers. At least 100 security personnel were among the 440 passengers onboard, reported BBC.

09:00 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: How did BLA cecome this powerful?

The BLA’s ability to hijack a train, hold hostages, and engage in prolonged combat against Pakistan’s military signals its increasing sophistication. But how did the group reach this level of operational strength? According to Al Jazeera, experts point to two key factors:

Advanced weaponry
Decentralized command structure

Additionally, field commanders now have greater autonomy, making BLA attacks more unpredictable, reports Al Jazeera.

08:27 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Is Pakistan’s military strategy failing in Balochistan?

The Pakistan military’s counteroffensive against the Jaffar Express hijacking ended with all 33 BLA attackers killed. But the broader conflict in Balochistan remains unresolved. The province has witnessed a 119% surge in attacks, with the state struggling to curb the insurgency, reported Al Jazeera. Analysts argue that Islamabad’s reliance on military crackdowns instead of political solutions has backfired. “The biggest beneficiaries of this growing state-citizen divide have been Baloch insurgents, who are increasingly able to recruit young men willing to embark on suicidal missions,” said political analyst Rafiullah Kakar, as per Al Jazeera.

07:51 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Why did BLA hijack Jaffar Express?

The Balochistan Liberation Army’s (BLA) hijacking of the Jaffar Express is unprecedented—not just in Pakistan but globally. The separatist group, which has waged an armed rebellion for decades, previously relied on targeted bombings and assassinations. Why escalate to train hijacking now?

Experts believe, as per Al Jazeera, that this attack reflects a shift in the BLA’s tactics, aimed at maximizing visibility. Malik Siraj Akbar, a Balochistan analyst, noted that the group “now undertakes major attacks, like the recent assault on a passenger train. This shift reflects both its increasing audacity and its confidence that the government lacks the capability to contain them.”

By seizing nearly 400 hostages, the BLA forced the state into direct negotiations—a rarity in Pakistan’s counterinsurgency approach. Though the military eventually neutralized the attackers, the message was clear: Baloch separatists are growing bolder, and the state remains on the defensive.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

00:25 (IST) 13 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Minister accuses Indian media of engaging in “propaganda”

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar on Wednesday accused the Indian media of engaging in “propaganda”. “Some political elements tried to exploit this tragic incident for their own political gain,” he said.

Tarar claimed that the Indian media, the BLA and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were speaking the same language on this incident.

Earlier, he also confirmed that the 33 terrorists who held Pakistani citizens hostage have been eliminated.

“We thank Allah that the operation in Balochistan has reached its logical conclusion,” he said.

“There were 440 passengers on board the train, and the Pakistan Army, FC (Frontier Corps), SSG (Special Service Group) and Air Force executed this operation with great skill,” he said. (PTI)

23:37 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Operation to free hostages after train hijacking ends

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22:34 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: 21 passengers, 4 soldiers killed, says Army general

A Pakistan Army spokesperson in a televised statement announced that the operation resulted in the deaths of 33 militants and 21 hostages.

"The armed forces successfully concluded the operation in the (Wednesday) evening by killing all terrorists and rescuing all passengers safely,” Lt Gen Sharif said.

21:47 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Security forces' operation against terrorists enters into final stage - State media

Rescue operation enters its “final stages” after all terrorists, who hijacked the Jaffar Express, got killed, state media Radio Pakistan reported on Wednesday.

It further added that casualties were being determined.

20:57 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: PM Shehbaz Sharif condemns train attack, says “won't shake Pakistan's resolve”

A day after the train attack in Balochistan, Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif condemned the incident on X, saying, “Dozens of the terrorists have been sent to hell.”

He stated that he spoke with Balochistan CM Sarfaraz Bugti for updates on the attack. Sharif called the nation “deeply shocked” by the tragedy but vowed such acts would not shake Pakistan’s resolve for peace.

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19:55 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Killed 50 hostages after hijacking train- BLA

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) announced killing 50 hostages following the hijacking of the Jaffar Express. (Reuters)

19:31 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What's behind the surge in attacks and train hijacking in Pakistan’s restive southwest?

The hijacking of a passenger train in Balochistan by the Baluch Liberation Army (BLA) marks a significant escalation in the province’s long-running insurgency. The attack, which resulted in a standoff with security forces, is the first large-scale hostage situation carried out by the separatist group, highlighting the increasing threat it poses to Pakistan’s stability.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has seen insurgent violence for decades, with the BLA demanding greater autonomy and a larger share of the region’s vast natural resources. The group has previously targeted Pakistani security forces, Chinese nationals, and infrastructure projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Islamabad accuses India of supporting the insurgency, though New Delhi denies the claim.

The attack comes as militancy surges across Pakistan, particularly since the Pakistani Taliban ended a ceasefire in 2022. Balochistan’s porous border with Iran also fuels instability, with both nations accusing each other of harboring militants. Security experts warn that continued violence will deter foreign investment and exacerbate economic challenges. While the train attack gained the BLA international attention, analysts believe civilian casualties may weaken its local support.

18:53 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Suicide bombers sitting next to hostages - Junior Minister

While hundreds of troops and helicopter teams have been deployed to rescue hostages from the remote mountainous area where the train was stopped. Officials say the train driver and several others have already been killed.

Moreover, Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants, wearing suicide vests, are sitting next to passengers, making the rescue operation extremely challenging, junior interior minister Talal Chaudhry told Geo television.

"They are wearing suicide vests and ... that's making the rescue difficult," he said.

"The operation is being conducted very carefully so that no harm is inflicted to the hostages, the women and children." — PTI

18:17 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: All about Majeed bridge, the BLA wing behind the hijack

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17:59 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: China says ready to strengthen security cooperation with Pak

China on Wednesday condemned the hijacking of a passenger train in Pakistan's Balochistan province by militants and expressed readiness to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation with Islamabad.

"We noted the reports and strongly condemn this terrorist attack," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a media briefing.

She emphasised that China firmly opposes terrorism in any form and reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to working with Pakistan to combat such threats. — PTI

17:32 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE | 190 passengers rescued till now, 30 Baloch militants killed

Security forces rescued 190 passengers from a hijacked train, killing 30 Baloch militants in Pakistan's restive Balochistan, as they continued to battle heavily-armed insurgents for a second day on Wednesday.

The Jaffar Express, carrying some 400 passengers in nine coaches, was going from Quetta to Peshawar when militants derailed it using explosives and hijacked it.

The Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday when they said they killed six soldiers. However, there has been no confirmation from the Pakistani authorities on casualties. — PTI

15:59 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE | BLA releases clip showing how rebel group hijacked Jaffar Express

About 50 separatist insurgents blew up a railway track and lobbed rockets at the Jaffar Express on Tuesday, which had over 400 people on board, a security official said.

In a video shared by the militants, the train is seen travelling through a barren pass when an explosion strikes the track as the locomotive approaches, sending up a plume of black smoke. A group of militants are seen watching from a hill above the tracks.

The video, shared by the group's spokesperson on Telegram, then cuts to people being pulled off the train as it stands still outside a tunnel. Reuters could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. — Reuters

15:11 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE | How the BLA militants hijacked the Jaffar Express in Pakistan

Pakistani security forces are carrying out a rescue operation to free dozens of passengers taken hostage by separatist militants who hijacked their train in the southwest of the country on Tuesday.

Here is a look at what happened, and the current situation.

THE TRAIN

The Jaffar Express was heading to the city of Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, with 425 people on board when it was attacked.

The passengers included personnel from the Pakistani army and other security forces who were travelling on leave.

THE ATTACK

Militants blew up the railway tracks and opened fire on the train, killing the driver and trapping the locomotive inside a tunnel before taking control of it.

Some of those rescued said they crouched low when the firing started, while others spoke of passengers who had been injured or killed.

RESCUE OPERATION

Security forces have launched a massive operation to free the hostages, deploying special forces and helicopters, and 155 passengers have been rescued so far.

Some 27 militants have also been killed, sources say.

However, attackers wearing suicide bombs, who have been seated next to some of the hostages, have made the rescue efforts tougher.

THE DEMANDS

Ethnic armed group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has claimed responsibility for the attack, has demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners, activists, and missing persons who it says were abducted by the military, within 48 hours.

It has threatened to start executing the hostages if the government does not fulfil the demand.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Pakistan's prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has condemned the attack and said security officials are "repelling" the militants.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has called the attackers "enemies" of Pakistan and vowed to foil their conspiracy to destabilise the nation. — Reuters

12:39 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE | Hostage rescue complicated by suicide bombers: Reports

Attackers wearing suicide bombs were sitting next to passengers taken hostage after militants took over

a train in southwest Pakistan, news agency Reuters reported Wednesday, complicating rescue efforts a day after the country's first such hijacking.

The separatist militants blew up a railway track and opened fire on the Jaffar Express on Tuesday as it travelled from Quetta, Balochistan's capital city, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Pakistani forces have rescued 155 passengers, and the government said a security operation was under way to free dozens still held hostage, without specifying the exact number.

12:17 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What is the history of Baloch Liberation Army, which attacked Jaffar Express in Balochistan?

The Baloch Liberation Army group has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was open to negotiations to swap prisoners. So far, there has been no response or any indication from the government to the offer from the insurgents.

The BLA regularly targets Pakistani security forces, but has also in the past attacked civilians, including Chinese nationals working on multibillion-dollar projects related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC.

Pakistan hosts thousands of Chinese workers as part of Beijing’s multibillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, which is building major infrastructure projects.

Authorities said the rescued included women and children, while an undisclosed number of security personnel have been killed, according to three security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to media.

(Associated Press)

11:46 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: At least 27 militants killed as Pakistan security forces battle to free about 300 hostages from hijacked train

Pakistan security personnel are trying to release about 300 hostages from a train which was attacked by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militant group on Tuesday, while it was while travelling from Quetta to Peshawar.

According to Radio Pakistan reports quoting security forces, 27 BLA militants have been killed till now and security forces have rescued more than 150 of the 450 people who were on the train.

The Baloch Liberation Army group, which has claimed the responsibility of the attack and hostage situation, has said that they were open to negotiations to swap BLA prisoners but there has been no words from the Pakistan government in this regard, Reuters reported.

11:27 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Pakistan rescues 155 hostages from train, dozens still held

Pakistani forces have rescued 155 passengers from a train that was hijacked by separatist fighters in the southwest of the country, security sources said on Wednesday, while the government said an operation was underway to rescue dozens still held hostage.

Militants blew up a railway track and opened fire on the train on Tuesday as it travelled from Quetta, Balochistan's capital city, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic armed group, claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened to start executing hostages unless Baloch political prisoners, activists, and missing persons it said had been abducted by the military were not released within 48 hours.

The militants have made bombers wearing "suicide jackets" sit next to some of the hostages, said multiple sources who asked not to be named. They did not specify the number of people being held but the interior ministry said in a statement that an operation was underway to rescue them.

BLA said on Tuesday it was holding 214 people hostage, and a security source told Reuters that there were 425 passengers on the train when it was attacked.

(Reuters)

11:18 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What has Pakistan Peoples Party chief Bilawal Bhutto said while condemning the train attack?

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has condemned the train attack incident reported from Balochistan, where in Jaffar Express train was attacked by BLA militant group while travelling from Quetta to Peshawar.

According to Geo TV, PPP's chief Bilawal Bhutto said "Terrorists are the biggest threat to Pakistan. Targeting innocent citizens by terrorists is a coward act."

10:41 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What has Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif said on the train hijacking incident?

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the efforts by the security forces for pushing back the militants who hijacked the Jaffar Express train in the Mushqaf area of the Bolan district of Balochistan.

PM Shehbaz Sharif's Office, in a statement, said that he lauded the “timely action and bravery” of the security personnel.

PM Sharif further added, "The beastly terrorists who carry out the cowardly attack do not deserve any concession. Terrorists are the enemies of the development of Balochistan. We will continue the war against the monster of terrorism until it is completely eradicated from the country. We will thwart every conspiracy to spread insecurity and chaos in Pakistan," the Dawn reported.

10:17 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What has Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari said on the train hijacking incident?

Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the incident where the Jaffar Express train has been hijacked by the BLA militants on Tuesday.

President Zardari also paid tribute to the security personnel for their “effective action” in getting the passengers released from hostage situation.

"Attacks on innocent citizens and passengers are inhumane and heinous acts. Those who attack passengers are against Balochistan and its traditions. The Baloch nation rejects those who attack and take hostages innocent passengers, elders and children. No religion or society allows such heinous acts," President Zardari said, as reported by Dawn.

09:58 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What emergency measure has Balochistan government taken in response to train hijack by BLA militants?

The Balochistan government has implemented emergency measures, and said that all institutions have been mobilised to deal with the situation where the Jaffar Express has been attacked by Baloch Liberation Army militants which was carrying about 500 passengers.

A relief train has been dispatched by the authorities and contingents of security forces were also sent to the attack site.

According to Geo TV, an emergency information desk has been set up at the Quetta Railway Station in Balochistan.

09:17 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What has the Pakistan Railway officials said on Jaffar Express hijack by BLA militants?

A senior official of the Pakistan Railway in Quetta has said that "Over 450 passengers onboard are being held hostage by gunmen. Passengers include women and children," according to news agency AFP.

The security forces deployed by the administration to counter the situation have said that despite the challenging route, forces reached the scene in the Mushqaf area of the Bolan district of Balochistan where the passengers were being held hostage.

08:46 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What has UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said regarding attack on Jaffar Express train?

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemned the attack on Pakistan's Jaffar Express train by BLA militants and has called for the immediate release of the hostages, United Nations spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement, according to Associated Press.

Pakistan Railways officials have said that a total of 500 passengers were travelling in the Jaffar Express when it came under attack from the BLA militants in Dhadar area of Bolan Pass in Balochistan on Tuesday.

08:37 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: What has the group Baloch Liberation Army, which has hijacked the Jaffar Express, said regarding the passengers release?

Pakistan separatist group Baloch Liberation Army known as the BLA had claimed the responsibility of the attack on Jaffar Express train in Balochistan, which was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar.

The Baloch Liberation Army spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch has said in a statement that the group was ready to release the captured passengers of the Jaffar Express, if the government agrees to release the group's jailed militants.

Pakistan and the United States have designated the BLA militant group as a terrorist organization.

07:11 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: 16 militants killed, 104 passengers rescued in attack on Jaffar Express in Balochistan

At least 16 militants were gunned down and 104 passengers were rescued by the security forces after Baloch militants hijacked Jaffar Express train in Balochistan which was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar.

According to news agency PTI, a source from the security force said "In the gun battle, which is still going on, 16 militants have been killed and many others injured," adding that the clean up operation would continue until all passengers are rescued.

The militants are believed to have taken some passengers into the mountains with the security forces pursuing them in the dark.

The reports claim that out of those rescued, 58 men, 31 women and 15 children have been sent to Mach, another town in Balochistan province by another train.

06:06 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: 13 militants killed as security forces rescue 80 hostages from Jaffar Express in Balochistan

At least 13 militants have been killed by the security forces and many others were injured, who had attacked Jaffar Express in Dhadar area of Bolan Pass in Balochistan on Tuesday.

The security forces were also able to rescue about 80 passengers held hostage by the militants. The rescued individuals include 43 men, 26 women and 11 children, according to Radio Pakistan.

The injured persons have been admitted to nearby hospitals as security forces said that the militants have split into small groups after they launched an operation to rescue the hostages and target those behind the attack.

05:56 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Who are the Pakistani Baloch separatist militants behind train hijacking?

Separatist militant group the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed that they had taken hostages during an attack on a train carrying hundreds of people, including paramilitary troops, in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday and threatened to kill them.

The BLA is the strongest of a number of insurgent groups long operating in the area bordering Afghanistan and Iran, a mineral-rich region that is home to Beijing's investment in Gwadar deep water port and other projects.

In what was previously a low-level insurgency, the militants have in recent months stepped up their activities using new tactics to inflict high death and injury tolls and target Pakistan's military.

Here are facts about the group, which has also targeted Chinese interests.

WHAT ARE THE BLA'S GOALS?

The BLA seeks independence for Balochistan, a province located in Pakistan's southwest and bordering Afghanistan to the north and Iran to the west.

It is the biggest of several ethnic insurgent groups that have battled the federal government for decades, saying it unfairly exploits Balochistan's rich gas and mineral resources.

The insurgents have been fighting to lay a claim to local resources which they say belong to their people.

Balochistan's mountainous border region serves as a safe haven and training ground for the Baloch insurgents and Islamist militants.

HOW HAS IT BECOME MORE LETHAL?

The BLA shocked the country's security establishment when it stormed army and navy bases in 2022.

It has deployed women suicide bombers, including in an attack on Chinese nationals at a university in Karachi and a bombing in southwest Balochistan.

An umbrella group of several Baloch ethnic groups said last week that it had convened all factions in a bid to unite them under a unified military structure.

A dormant BLA splinter group called BLA (AZAD) became active in recent weeks.

(Reuters)

01:34 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Pakistani troops free 104 hostages, 16 militants killed

Hours after the attack, Pakistani security forces have killed at least 16 militants and rescued 104 hostages from the hijacked train in Bolan, Balochistan, according to Geo News and The Express Tribune.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind earlier confirmed that 80 passengers were rescued.

“The security forces have managed to rescue 80 passengers – 43 men, 26 women, and 11 children – from a bogie,” Rind said.

However, latest reports indicate 104 passengers have now been freed, including 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children, as the operation continues. (PTI)

00:34 (IST) 12 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Heavy casualties reported, 80 rescued

A security source, speaking anonymously to Reuters, confirmed that many lives have been lost in the BLA attack, with 80 military personnel among the 425 passengers aboard the train.

Another security official stated that 80 passengers have been rescued and that militants are now surrounded.

"The operation will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated," the source added, Reuters reported.

23:23 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: BLA sets 48-hour deadline, demands prisoner swap for 214 hostages

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Pakistani government, demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners in exchange for the 214 hostages it is holding.

“BLA has maintained complete control of the train and all hostages for the past eight hours. Under the rules of war, these 214 hostages are considered prisoners of war and BLA is prepared for a prisoner exchange,” the group said in a statement.

It further called Pakistan an “occupying state” and insisted on the "immediate and unconditional release" of Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons, and national resistance activists.

21:55 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE Updates: Armed men have taken 35 passengers hostage: Police

Armed militants attacked a train in southwest Pakistan on Tuesday, taking at least 35 passengers hostage while nearly 350 others remained unharmed, local police confirmed, news agency Reuters reported.

The separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility, alleging they had seized 182 hostages, including military personnel. The group has threatened to execute them if security forces do not withdraw from the area.

20:52 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: 350 passengers safe after attack – local police

Nearly 350 passengers believed to be safe after train attack in Pakistan – local police

20:25 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: BLA warns of executing hostages if Pakistani military advances

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has confirmed that all hostages are in the custody of its Fidayeen unit, Majeed Brigade, reports stated.

The report further mentioned that spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch stated that any approach by the Pakistani military would result in the execution of the hostages, with the Fidayeen prepared to resist until martyrdom.

19:42 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Interior minister vows no 'concessions' to militants as Balochistan imposes emergency measures

Pakistan's Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, condemned the attack, vowing that the government would not make any concessions to the "beasts who fire on innocent passengers."

Meanwhile, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind announced the imposition of emergency measures to address the crisis but did not provide further details.

19:32 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Balochistan CTD warned of planned BLA attack days before train attack

On Friday, a letter from Balochistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), seen by CNN, had warned of a planned attack by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

The alert urged all concerned authorities to take extraordinary precautions and safety measures to prevent any such incident.

An insurgency in Balochistan has been running for decades, but has gained traction in recent years with BLA being responsible for the deadliest attacks in Pakistan in the past year.

19:24 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: How the attack unfolded

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on the Jaffar Express, which was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, injuring the driver and triggering panic among passengers. The attack occurred on Tuesday morning as the train passed through the Gudalaar and Piru Koneri areas.

According to Pakistan's Express News, the attackers forced the train to stop in the mountainous region of Mach, where they reportedly took hostages. Eyewitnesses and Levies sources said gunfire continued in the area as security forces responded.

The Railway Police confirmed the attack, stating that the train was halted with around 500 passengers on board.

19:15 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: 20 killed, 182 hostages - women, children and elderly released

Separatist militants stated they have taken 182 hostages, including military personnel. The group has threatened to execute them if security forces do not withdraw from the area.

In a statement, the militants also claimed to have killed 20 soldiers and shot down a drone, though Pakistani authorities have not confirmed these claims.

"Civilian passengers, particularly women, children, the elderly, and Baloch citizens, have been released safely and given a secure route," the group said in an emailed statement and Telegram post, Reuters reported.

19:07 (IST) 11 Mar 2025
Pakistan Train Attack LIVE: Opening note

Hello and welcome to our LIVE blog.

Major developments are unfolding in Pakistan, where separatist militants have attacked the Jaffar Express, taking 182 people hostage.

We'll bring you the latest updates on this incident and more.

Stay tuned.

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