Tue Mar 11 15:49:00 UTC 2025: ## Baloch Separatists Take Hundreds Hostage in Pakistan Train Seizing
**QUETTA, Pakistan —** The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group fighting for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan, claimed responsibility for seizing the Jaffar Express train, taking over 450 passengers hostage. The attack, which occurred in the Bolan district of Balochistan province, resulted in the deaths of six Pakistani military personnel, according to the BLA.
The BLA fighters reportedly blew up sections of the railway track to halt the train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar before boarding and taking control. A spokesperson for the group, Jeeyand Baloch, issued a statement warning that hostages will be killed if Pakistani security forces attempt a rescue operation.
Pakistani authorities have confirmed the hostage situation and deployed security forces to the Mushqaf area where the train is being held. The Balochistan government has declared a state of emergency and mobilized all relevant institutions to address the crisis.
The attack highlights the ongoing decades-long insurgency in Balochistan, where separatist groups frequently target the Pakistani government and its interests, citing exploitation of the region’s rich mineral resources. The BLA is the largest of these groups. Balochistan, despite being Pakistan’s largest province, is sparsely populated and contains the strategically important Gwadar port. The province shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, making it a significant geopolitical location.
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