Chaos Unleashed: The Tragic Hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Pakistan

A horrifying 30-hour hijacking took place aboard the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, Pakistan, when armed militants attacked a train carrying over 400 passengers. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the siege, threatening the lives of hostages while demanding the release of political prisoners. While 300 passengers managed to escape, conflicting reports suggest that many remain unaccounted for.

Mehboob Hussain was riding the Jaffar Express through the Bolan Pass in central Pakistan when disaster struck as the train came to a halt following an explosion beneath it. Stranded without a cell signal in this remote area, Hussain and around 440 other passengers found themselves in the crosshairs of an attack when armed militants detonated the tracks and began firing at them.

"I was a passenger on the train that was attacked," Mr. Hussain told BBC Urdu, recalling the intense moments as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) swiftly claimed responsibility for the attack, which marked the insurgent group’s first hijacking of a train. The BLA threatened dire consequences if their demands for the release of Baloch political prisoners were not met in 48 hours.

News of the siege, which lasted over 30 hours, revealed tragic outcomes: reports indicated at least 33 militants and civilian hostages dead, with some figures suggesting numerous passengers are still missing. Eyewitness accounts described the chaotic atmosphere on board, with one passenger, Ishaq Noor, lamenting, “We held our breath throughout the firing, not knowing what would happen next."

Initial reports indicated the train was attacked in a tunnel; however, a railway police officer revealed they were actually in an open area when the assault began. The BLA released video footage of the incident, showing militants positioned atop a rocky slope, launching the attacks. During the gunfight, onboard police officers attempted to defend themselves but quickly found themselves outgunned as ammunition ran short.

After relentless gunfire ceased, the militants began systematically taking passengers, using ethnic identity to separate hostages. Mr. Noor Muhammad described how he and his wife were let go after armed militants forcibly evacuated them from the train, while others faced a more harrowing fate. Some of the released passengers spoke of the challenges they endured while escaping on foot for several hours to reach safety.

As the night wore on, armed militants left the site, leading to another round of chaos as they resumed firing, resulting in further casualties amongst hostages. Eyewitness accounts from passengers who witnessed killings in front of them evoked sheer horror as they relayed their experiences of loss and terror.

The situation changed drastically during the early morning prayers on the day following the attack when security forces initiated a counteroffensive against the BLA militants. Amid the confusion of gunfire from rescuers, passengers seized the chance to escape. Many reported that the military's intervention provided a critical opportunity to flee as armed BLA members momentarily shifted their focus.

While rescuers successfully freed many hostages, the fate of around 140 passengers remains uncertain, with unverified reports suggesting that some had been misled or taken away by the militants. As the crisis unfolded, residents like Mr. Noor expressed gratitude for their survival, as they now seek solace and support far from the traumatic events.

The military continues to pursue all involved in this incident while reinforcing the promise to protect civilians in future operations against insurgents in Balochistan.