It began as an ordinary train journey but turned into a harrowing ordeal that lasted nearly 36 hours. Passengers aboard the Jaffar Express found themselves at the center of one of Pakistan’s most audacious militant attacks in recent years when armed insurgents from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) seized control of the train, taking hundreds hostage and killing at least 21 civilians.
The Attack
The Jaffar Express departed from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, on March 11, bound for Peshawar. About 100 miles from Quetta, near the Mashkaf Tunnel, an explosion forced the train to a halt. Moments later, gunmen stormed the carriages, firing indiscriminately and dragging passengers outside. Survivors recalled that the attackers, armed with rocket launchers and automatic weapons, separated hostages by region and identity, sparing women and the elderly.
“They ordered us out of the train, saying no one would be harmed,” recalled Muhammad Naveed, a survivor. “But then they began picking people and shooting them.”
Passengers described a night of horror as they lay on the floor of the train, some hiding under seats while militants executed hostages. Muhammad Ashraf, 75, said he survived only because of his age. “They killed at least 10 people within the first hour, including security personnel. I saw death up close, but God saved me.”
Escape and Rescue
In the cover of darkness, a group of passengers, led by 30-year-old Muhammad Numan, saw an opportunity to flee when their captors fell asleep. “It was a gamble of life and death,” Numan said. “We walked for hours in the mountains before reaching a checkpoint where security forces took us in.”
Meanwhile, the military launched a large-scale operation involving army commandos, air force support, and Frontier Corps personnel. According to the military’s media wing, 33 insurgents were killed in the rescue effort, and all remaining hostages were freed. However, four soldiers also lost their lives in the operation.
Aftermath and Political Fallout
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif traveled to Quetta on March 13 to meet survivors and the troops involved in the rescue. Authorities confirmed that bodies of the victims were being transported to their hometowns while the wounded received medical treatment.
In a statement, the military accused the attackers of coordinating the assault from Afghanistan, calling on the Afghan Taliban government to prevent terrorist groups from using its territory. Kabul has denied sheltering the BLA or other Pakistani insurgents.
A Growing Insurgency
The BLA has waged an armed separatist movement in Balochistan for decades, demanding greater autonomy and accusing the central government of exploiting the province’s vast natural resources. The group has increasingly targeted infrastructure, security forces, and Chinese nationals involved in large-scale projects under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Security experts warn that the hijacking marks an escalation in the BLA’s tactics. “The ability to take an entire train hostage demonstrates a new level of operational capability,” said analyst Dost Muhammad Barrech. “Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy needs a serious reassessment.”
As the country mourns the victims, families continue to wait for news of missing loved ones. Abdul Rauf, who had been searching for his father at Quetta’s railway station, voiced the frustration of many. “Where are the authorities? Who will listen to us?” he asked.
For those who survived, the journey on the Jaffar Express is one they will never forget. “I saw things I can’t describe,” said Arslan Yousaf, who was freed in the rescue. “I survived, but many didn’t. That will haunt me forever.”