Tue Mar 11 17:35:40 UTC 2025: ## Baloch Separatists Hold Hundreds Hostage on Pakistani Train
**QUETTA, Pakistan** – The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group fighting for independence in Balochistan, claimed responsibility for seizing a Pakistani passenger train, taking over 180 passengers hostage, including a significant number of Pakistani soldiers. The attack, which occurred on the Jaffar Express traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, resulted in the deaths of at least six military personnel, according to the BLA.
The BLA, in a statement released on social media, demanded the release of all Baloch political prisoners and those who have been forcibly disappeared within 48 hours. They threatened to kill the hostages if Pakistani forces attempt a rescue operation. The group reportedly blew up sections of the railway track to halt the train before boarding it inside a tunnel.
Initial reports indicated that over 450 passengers were held hostage. Pakistani security forces have since reportedly freed 80 hostages, including men, women, and children. However, hundreds remain in the BLA’s custody.
The incident occurred in the Mushqaf area of Balochistan’s Bolan district. The Balochistan government has declared a state of emergency and mobilized resources to address the crisis.
The BLA’s actions are the latest in a decades-long insurgency in Balochistan, fueled by grievances over the region’s resource distribution and alleged human rights abuses. The group argues that Balochistan’s rich mineral and gas resources are unfairly exploited by the Pakistani government. The strategically important Gwadar port, located in Balochistan, is a key point of contention.
First Piper 