Pakistan’s Jaffar express attack ends: All terrorists killed, several hostages dead

The terror attack on the Jaffar Express in Pakistan's Balochistan province ended on Wednesday after a fierce rescue operation that went on all day. Over 50 militants were killed, as per government sources, and a number of hostages also died. Security forces rescued over 300 passengers safely. The attack was attributed to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist outfit infamous for attacking Pakistani forces and infrastructure.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti spoke to the provincial assembly, saying, "Some of our people have also been martyred, but detailed information will be shared later." Security officials, who wished not to be named, confirmed that the operation had been completed but did not offer an official tally of hostages slain in the raid.

What happened?

The Jaffar Express, which had around 450 passengers on board, was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar when it was attacked in a secluded region of Balochistan. Militants fired explosives on the rail track, which stopped the train in a tunnel. Militants then stormed the train, seizing the passengers as hostages. Women and children were among the survivors taken to safety, and some security officials also died. The injured were taken to Mach district hospitals, and seriously hurt victims were airlifted to Quetta, some 100 kilometers away from the target. 

BLA's demands

The BLA, in a statement issued by their spokesperson Jiand Baloch, accused the attack as an attempt to negotiate the release of their detained fighters. The group threatened that hostages' lives would be endangered if their demands were not being accepted. But the government of Pakistan remained silent and continued its policy of refusing such demands in the past.

Ongoing separatist conflict in Balochistan

Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is endowed with natural resources but is Pakistan's most underpopulated province. Separatist movements such as the BLA have always complained that the central authorities are looting their resources without developing local communities. They want more autonomy and a bigger chunk of the wealth of the region.

The turbulence is not contained within Pakistan, as insurgent organizations along the Iran-Pakistan border are presenting security challenges to both countries. In January 2024, Pakistan and Iran carried out cross-border raids against militant camps, causing several fatalities. Diplomatic talks, however, later toned down the confrontation.

Impact of the attack

Security experts think that the recent attack may turn against the BLA. Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali said, "Having failed to cause harm to military personnel, the BLA turned towards attacking unarmed citizens. This might gain them fleeting publicity but might undermine their grassroots support base." The BLA attacked a Quetta railway station in a suicide bombing in November 2023 that killed 26 individuals. The attack on the Jaffar Express has once again underscored the tenuous security environment in Balochistan, with fears of intensifying separatist violence.