Separatist Militants Take Train Passengers Hostage in Violent Attack in Southwestern Pakistan

Separatist militants belonging to the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) launched a violent attack against a passenger train in southwestern Pakistan. According to local police and officials, the militants first detonated explosives, severely damaging the track, and subsequently seized control of the train, trapping it inside a tunnel. During the assault, the train's driver sustained critical injuries and later died.

Local authorities reported that about 350 passengers, among them women and children, are confirmed safe. Furthermore, a relief train has been dispatched to aid those passengers who managed to avoid capture. Pakistani security forces have deployed special operations teams and military helicopters to try to regain full control of the situation, and fighting has continued in the surrounding mountainous terrain.

Conflicting reports have emerged regarding casualties in this attack. Militants claim they hold more than 200 hostages, asserting that among the captives are military personnel who were on leave. According to the militants' statements, they have killed 30 soldiers and shot down a drone; however, this claim has not been verified by Pakistani authorities. Conversely, Pakistani security sources indicate that several militants have been killed, 104 hostages have already been rescued, and a smaller number of hostages remain unaccounted for.

they are calling for the immediate release of detained Baloch political prisoners, activists, and individuals they claim have been forcibly taken by Pakistani military forces. The militant group threatened to kill the hostages and completely destroy the train if their demands are not satisfied within the given 48-hour period, or if the Pakistani government attempts a military intervention.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the attack and emphasized that no dealings or concessions would be made with the perpetrators. Provincial authorities in Balochistan have introduced emergency protocols to manage this crisis but provided limited details.

The BLA is recognized as the largest among several insurgent groups combating Pakistani governmental forces, accusing them of exploiting the region's abundant natural resources. The long-standing conflict in Balochistan has frequently included strikes against Pakistani forces, infrastructure, and international interests, particularly targeting the Pakistani army and China's economic ventures within the province.