Pakistan Train Hijack: Over 150 Passengers Rescued, 27 Baloch Rebels Killed Amid Gunfight

Last Updated:March 12, 2025, 08:56 IST

At least 16 rebels were killed and 104 passengers rescued after Baloch separatists hijacked the Jaffar Express in Pakistan. The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility

The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attack. (Photo: X)

At least 16 rebels were killed and 104 passengers rescued by security forces after Baloch separatists hijacked a passenger train in a tunnel in Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province on Tuesday.

The Jaffar Express, which was carrying approximately 400 passengers across nine carriages, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when armed assailants intercepted it in a tunnel near the mountainous areas of Gudalar and Piru Kunri on Tuesday afternoon. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility for the attack.

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Security sources confirmed that, following an ongoing gun battle with the insurgents, they were able to rescue 104 passengers, including women and children.

“During the ongoing gun battle, 16 insurgents were killed and many others injured," said one source, adding that the operation would continue until all passengers were freed from the train. The remaining militants are believed to have taken some of the passengers into the mountains, with security forces in pursuit through the dark terrain.

The rescued passengers, including 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children, were sent to Mach, a town in Kachhi district, Balochistan, by another train.

“The militants have now split into smaller groups to attempt an escape under the cover of darkness, but the security forces have surrounded the tunnel and the remaining passengers will soon be rescued," the source added.

Previously, security forces had successfully rescued 80 passengers, including 43 men, 26 women, and 11 children, according to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind. Although further details have not been provided, Rind confirmed that security forces, including military personnel, had reached the rugged area where the tunnel is located shortly after the train was stopped.

Reports from Pakistani media indicated intense gunfire and explosions near the tunnel where the hijacking took place. Rind stated that rescue teams were dispatched in response to reports of heavy firing at the Peshawar-bound train.

In response, Pakistan Railways established an emergency desk at both the Peshawar and Quetta stations, as anxious relatives and friends sought information about their loved ones aboard the train.

Train services from Quetta to Peshawar had only resumed after a suspension of more than six weeks. Rana Muhammad Dilawar, the district police officer for the area, said that security forces had cordoned off the region, but there were reports that the militants had taken some women and children hostage. He also noted that four to five government officials were on the train.

Tariq Mahmood, a senior official at Peshawar Railway Station, urged the public not to believe rumours circulating on social media or other platforms.

This incident follows a previous attack in November last year when a suicide bomber killed 26 people and injured 62 others at the Quetta railway station, which led to the suspension of several services by Pakistan Railways.

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News world Pakistan Train Hijack: Over 100 Passengers Rescued, 16 Baloch Rebels Killed Amid Gunfight