Baloch Separatists Hijack Passenger Train in Pakistan, Threaten Hostages

The Balochistan Liberation Army claims responsibility for the attack on the Jaffar Express, holding over 400 passengers captive in a remote mountainous region.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group, attacked the Jaffar Express in Pakistan's Bolan district, injuring the driver and halting the train carrying over 400 passengers, including women and children.
The militants bombed the railway tracks, forcing the train to stop near a tunnel in a rugged, mountainous area, and subsequently took control of the train, holding passengers hostage.
The BLA has threatened to execute hostages if Pakistani forces launch a rescue operation, and claims to have killed six security personnel, though this remains unverified.
The attack is part of the BLA's decades-long insurgency for Balochistan's independence, citing exploitation of the region's natural resources and discrimination against the ethnic Baloch minority.
Reports indicate the train caught fire during clashes between militants and security forces, raising concerns for the safety of the hostages as emergency teams attempt to respond.