Pakistan - Militants Hijack Jaffar Express Train In Balochistan

Information:

On 11 March 2025, militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) reportedly attacked a passenger train owned by Jaffar Express, which was carrying over 450 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar in Bolan, Balochistan. Eyewitnesses stated that the militants, numbering over 100, forced the train to stop at Tunnel No. 8 using explosives. They then opened fire and smashed windows to gain entry. Local reports indicated that the militants checked passengers' ID cards, specifically looking for Punjabis, Sindhis, and Baloch individuals. They released some local Baloch passengers but took an unspecified number to an unknown location nearby.

In response to the attack, the army, in collaboration with the Pakistan Air Force, launched a full-scale operation known as “Operation Green Bolan” to rescue the hostages. By 16 March 2025, security personnel announced that the operation had ended. Some sources reported that 350 passengers were rescued, while others indicated that the number was only 190. Meanwhile, the BLA claimed to have taken 100 hostages. The exact number of casualties remains uncertain due to the complex nature of the incident; however, some reports noted that 27 hostages had been killed. Approximately 35 militants were also reported dead during the attack.

BLA Tactics:

Most of the major attacks in Pakistan have been attributed to the BLA, which has claimed the lives of civilians, military personnel, and Chinese nationals. Although the insurgency has been ongoing for decades, it has gained momentum in recent years, particularly after the deep-water Gwadar port was leased to the Chinese. The claim that China is assisting Pakistan to steal its mineral resources.

In October 2024, they attacked a convoy carrying Chinese engineers. Two Chinese nationals were killed during the incident. More recently in February 2025, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on a military escort that was accompanying a supply convoy for a mining company operated by China in Kalat. Seven soldiers were killed during the attack.

Since 2018, their campaigns have shifted from guerrilla warfare to suicide bombings and coordinated attacks. Another worrisome trend in the use of female suicide bombers. Suicide bombings by women are not common but of late there have been reports of such incidents. Earlier in March 2025, a suicide bomber detonated her explosive near a military convoy in Kalat district.

Apart from this latest incident, the group has focused their attacks on the destruction of transport infrastructure posing a threat to both ongoing and future investment. In August 2024, they blew up some parts of railway tracks. Later, in November of the same year, the group claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a train station in Quetta that killed more than 20 people.

Assessment:

The incident marks the first time that an entire train has been hijacked by militants in Pakistan, though the Jaffar Express has been targeted previously by groups such as Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The attack not only highlights the ongoing deterioration of the security situation in Pakistan’s southwest region but also reflects the evolving capabilities and determination of the BLA in their fight for political and economic control over the mineral-rich area. It was highly coordinated. The district has around 17 railway tunnels, but Tunnel No. 8 was of strategic importance due to limited cell phone signal and internet service. This allowed the militants operate for hours.

The Baloch group, a major tribe in Balochistan, has long felt marginalised by government policies. As a result, they often attack individuals from other regions who work in Balochistan. The targeted nature of the attack, focusing on specific ethnic groups, reflects deep-rooted tensions and grievances that could lead to further violence and unrest if not addressed. Earlier, in February 2025, they intercepted a bus in the Barkhan district, killing seven passengers identified as Punjabi.

There is evidence of foreign involvement in the attack, as officials intercepted communications between the militants and their handlers in Afghanistan. For a long time, Pakistan’s military and government have accused Afghanistan of providing a safe haven for militant groups, a claim that the Taliban has repeatedly denied.

The latest attack has gained international attention, especially given the scale of Chinese investments in the area. It raises major concerns for China, as it threatens the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative and the safety of their personnel. Although the Pakistani government has launched several operations against the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the recent wave of attacks by the group suggests that the government’s current counter-insurgency strategy may not be effective.

GSA Forecast:

• The situation in the Balochistan is likely to remain volatile as the BLA continues to assert its presence and capability.

  
  

• Claims of foreign militants being involved complicates the security landscape and could strain Pakistan's relations with Afghanistan.

• China and other foreign investors in Pakistan may re-evaluate their presence in Pakistan as a whole including cities like Karachi, due to current threats.

• Increased military operations in Balochistan may bring some calm in the short term, but without addressing the root cause, the violence is likely to continue.