Separatist militants in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan hijacked a passenger train carrying around 450 passengers on Tuesday afternoon, taking hostages and threatening to execute them if authorities launch a rescue operation, according to government officials and a statement from the attackers.
The Jaffer Express, which departed the provincial capital Quetta early Tuesday morning bound for Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan, was forced to stop by armed militants as it entered Tunnel No. 8 in Bolan, a remote mountainous region, according to Muhammad Kashif, Quetta Railways' controller.
"We are unable to make any contact with passengers and crew, and the situation remains unclear," Kashif told CNN shortly after the incident unfolded.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an insurgent group fighting for Balochistan's independence, quickly claimed responsibility for the hijacking, emphasizing the threat against the hostages. In a statement, the group warned hostages would be "executed" if Pakistani security forces attempted to intervene.
Provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed reports of "intense gunfire" aboard the train and described the area as particularly difficult for emergency services to access. He added that emergency response units, including a relief train, have been dispatched to the site along with security forces aiming to secure the location and rescue passengers.
Pakistani officials indicated the situation remains volatile, with gunfire exchanges reported between militants and security forces surrounding the mountainous tunnel area. Police and railway officials confirmed the train driver was wounded in the initial assault, and security officials cited an explosion near the site.
Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi issued a forceful condemnation of the attack, saying the government would refuse to negotiate or offer concessions to "beasts who fire on innocent passengers."
Tuesday's incident comes just days after Balochistan's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) issued a specific threat alert warning of planned attacks by the BLA. The CTD's Friday notice, reviewed by CNN, urged authorities to take heightened safety precautions to prevent such incidents.
The insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan's poorest province despite its vast natural resources, has intensified over recent years, particularly after Pakistan leased the strategic deep-water port of Gwadar to China as part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. Militants accuse Islamabad of exploiting the province's abundant mineral resources without adequately reinvesting proceeds into the local economy.
The Gwadar port, promoted by Pakistani officials as a future economic hub comparable to Dubai, has instead become a flashpoint for separatist violence. Attacks targeting Chinese workers and government security forces have become routine, casting doubt over Islamabad's ability to secure strategic international partnerships.
The BLA, the largest separatist group active in the province, has previously executed deadly attacks targeting Pakistani military and civilian infrastructure. The group's persistent threats and frequent strikes underscore the government's challenge in controlling violence in a region vital to Pakistan's economic and geopolitical interests.
