ISLAMABAD, March 13 — The Pakistan Army declared an end to the Jaffar Express hijacking on Wednesday, confirming that 21 passengers and four paramilitary Frontier Corps personnel were killed by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants before forces neutralized all attackers.
Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif told Dunya News TV that 33 militants were killed in the operation. “The armed forces successfully concluded the operation by eliminating all terrorists and safely rescuing passengers,” he said.
The Jaffar Express, carrying about 400 passengers in nine coaches, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when militants derailed it using explosives and seized control near Gudalar and Piru Kunri, about 160 kilometers from Quetta. The BLA claimed responsibility on Tuesday, initially stating they had killed six soldiers.
However, an Army official told AFP that 27 off-duty soldiers onboard were among those killed. “A total of 346 hostages were freed, and over 30 terrorists were eliminated,” the official said, adding that one soldier died in the rescue operation.
Pakistani PM Condemns Attack
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed outrage over the incident. “The entire nation is deeply shocked by this dastardly act and saddened by the loss of innocent lives—such cowardly acts will not shake Pakistan’s resolve for peace,” he posted on X after speaking with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti.
Offering condolences to the victims’ families, Sharif added, “Dozens of terrorists have been sent to hell. May Allah grant the martyrs the highest ranks in Jannah and bless the injured with a swift recovery.”
This marks the first instance of a passenger train hijacking by the BLA or any insurgent group in Balochistan, though the region has seen increased attacks on security forces, infrastructure, and foreign nationals in recent months. In the past, Baloch militants targeted railway tracks with rockets and remote-controlled bombs, with the BLA claiming responsibility for most incidents.