2025 Jaffar Express hijacking
 | This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses, and initial news reports may be unreliable. The latest updates to this article may not reflect the most current information. (March 2025) |
On 11 March 2025[7], the Jaffar Express, a train in Pakistan travelling from Quetta to Peshawar with approximately 440 passengers on board, was seized by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The assailants allegedly set off explosives in tunnels and along the tracks before opening fire on the train. Officials reported that at least 71 individuals lost their lives in the incident, including eight soldiers and all of the attackers, while 37 others sustained injuries. The BLA issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners, threatening that hostages would face "punishment" if their demands were not met, although some hostages had been released. Consequently, Pakistan Railways temporarily halted train services between Balochistan and the provinces of Punjab and Sindh.[8][5][9][10]
| 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking | |
|---|---|
| Part of the insurgency in Balochistan | |
 Similar Jaffar Express train pictured in 2021 | |
| Location | Bolan pass Sibi, Balochistan, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 29°38′53″N 67°35′3″E / 29.64806°N 67.58417°ECoordinates: 29°38′53″N 67°35′3″E / 29.64806°N 67.58417°E |
| Date | 11 March 2025 c.1:15 PM (PST) |
| Target | Punjabi Civilians, security personnel |
Attack type | Hijacking, hostage-taking, mass shooting, bombings, shootout, ambush |
| Weapons | Explosives, rocket launchers, automatic firearms, suicide vests |
| Deaths | 58 (including 33 militants, 4 paramilitary forces and 22 hostages killed by militants)[1] |
| Injured | 37[2][3] |
| Victims | 440[4]–500[5] hostages[6] |
| Perpetrator |  Balochistan Liberation Army |
No. of participants | 33 |
Between 11 and 12 March, Pakistani military forces conducted several operations on the hijacked train, successfully rescuing 346 hostages and eliminating all 33 BLA insurgents involved. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the assault as "cowardly acts," extended condolences to the families of the victims, and remarked after the crisis was resolved that the BLA members "have been sent to hell." The BLA's attack on civilians drew widespread condemnation from numerous global leaders, who expressed solidarity with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism. In the aftermath of the incident, Pakistan Railways announced measures to bolster security by increasing patrols across the country's railway systems and enhancing inspections of passengers and transport vehicles to avert similar incidents in the future.
References
- ↑ Shahid, Syed Irfan Raza | Saleem (13 March 2025). "Balochistan standoff ends after all Jaffar Express hostages rescued". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedhostages - ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Pakistan Train Hijack Update: BLA Militants Release Civilians, Keep 214 Military Personnel Hostage Aboard Jaffar Express; 30 Soldiers Killed". English Jagran. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ↑ Shahid, Syed Irfan Raza | Saleem (13 March 2025). "Balochistan standoff ends after all Jaffar Express hostages rescued". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ↑ Indian National Calendar: 20 Saura Phālguna 1946
Vikrama Samvat: 27 Phālguna (Śukla dvādaśī) 2081 - ↑ Ahmed, Saleem; Sayeed, Saad (13 March 2025). "Pakistan military ends train standoff, says 21 hostages and four troops killed". Reuters. Quetta. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
- ↑ Moshiri, Azadeh; Perera, Ayeshea (11 March 2025). "Pakistan militants attack train carrying hundreds of passengers". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.
- ↑ "Baloch separatists attack train in Pak, warn passengers will be executed if..." India Today. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 11 March 2025.