Pakistan’s security forces are engaged in an intense operation against militants who hijacked a passenger train in Balochistan’s Bolan district, taking nearly 500 people hostage after bombing a railway track on Tuesday.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the attack, has positioned suicide bombers among the hostages and issued a 48-hour ultimatum. The group has threatened to execute ten more captives if military operations continue.

Suicide bombers among hostages

Security sources told that militants have deployed suicide bombers wearing explosive vests near civilians, making rescue efforts perilous. “The terrorists have positioned suicide bombers right next to innocent hostages,” a security official confirmed. Women and children have been taken to three different locations, being used as human shields.

“The militants have now formed small groups to try to escape in the dark, but the security forces have surrounded the tunnel, and the remaining passengers will also be rescued soon,” the official added.

BLA’s 48 hour-ultimatum

Amid ongoing military operations, the BLA has issued a stark warning, vowing to execute ten hostages if Pakistan continues its airstrikes and artillery shelling. “If the Pakistan military launches an operation, all hostages will be executed,” the militant group declared in a statement, according to The Balochistan Post.
The group accused the military of “irresponsible and reckless aggression,” alleging that drone strikes targeted their positions near the hijacked Jaffar Express train.

Heavy casualties as security forces press on

So far, security forces have rescued at least 155 passengers, including women and children, while eliminating 27 militants. However, the confrontation has also resulted in significant casualties, with at least 20 soldiers killed in fierce gun battles.

Gunfire and explosions have rocked the Bolan region overnight, as security forces sped-up efforts to regain control of the train. Emergency desks have been set up at Peshawar and Quetta railway stations to assist frantic relatives seeking information about their loved ones.

Tense standoff in Balochistan

The Jaffar Express, carrying nearly 500 passengers, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was intercepted in a tunnel near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri on Tuesday.

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has long been a hotbed of insurgent activity. The BLA, which is banned in Pakistan, the UK, and the US, frequently targets security forces and infrastructure, including projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Why is Balochistan a conflict zone?

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but poorest province, has long been home to separatist movements.
Militants claim that the region’s natural resources are exploited by outsiders, leaving little benefit for locals. Violence has worsened since the Taliban regained control in Afghanistan, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of harbouring militants—an allegation the Taliban denies.
In 2013, Balochistan saw highest militant violence in nearly a decade.