Passengers describe the horror of the Jaffar Express hijacking

A harrowing ordeal unfolded aboard the Jaffar Express as armed militants stormed the passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, leaving survivors shaken and security forces scrambling to rescue hostages.

Chaos and Fear on the Jaffar Express

Passengers described moments of sheer terror as gunmen from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) took control of the train, opening fire indiscriminately and seizing hostages.

“The attackers were talking to each other in Balochi, and their leader repeatedly told them to ‘keep an eye’ particularly on the security personnel to make sure that [the attackers] do not lose them,” Mushtaq Muhammad said.

“We held our breath as gunfire rang out, not knowing if we would survive,” Ishaq Noor, a passenger, told the BBC. He was among more than 400 people travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when the attack began.

“If a bullet comes our way, it will hit us and not the children,” Mr Noor said.

The train’s driver was among the injured, while survivors spoke of “doomsday scenes” inside the carriages. Some passengers managed to escape on foot, trekking for hours to reach the next railway station.

“There was a lot of fear among the passengers. It was a scene of doomsday,” said Muhammad Ashraf.

“We reached the station with great difficulty, because we were tired and there were children and women with us,” he added.

Ongoing Rescue Mission

Pakistan’s security forces have launched a major operation to free the remaining hostages. Military sources claim that 155 passengers have been rescued so far and that 27 militants have been killed, though independent verification of these figures remains unclear.

Hundreds of troops, helicopters, and special forces have been deployed to track down the attackers, who are believed to have fled into the surrounding mountainous terrain with an unknown number of captives. The BLA has issued warnings against any rescue attempts, threatening “severe consequences.”

Families Await News

Amid the uncertainty, families of hostages and injured passengers are anxiously waiting for updates. The relatives of train driver Amjad Yasin are particularly distressed after learning that he was wounded in the attack.

“For weeks, we feared something like this would happen,” said his brother Amir, recalling previous attacks on railway lines in the region.

Meanwhile, at Quetta railway station, wooden coffins were seen being loaded onto a train—empty for now but ready for potential casualties.

A Long-Standing Conflict

The BLA, a separatist group seeking independence for Balochistan, has waged a decades-long insurgency against the Pakistani state, frequently targeting infrastructure and security forces. The Pakistani government, along with several Western nations, has designated the group as a terrorist organization.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has voiced deep concern over the attack, urging all parties to seek a peaceful resolution to long-standing grievances in Balochistan.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also condemned the attack, calling for the immediate release of all remaining hostages.

As rescue operations continue, the people of Pakistan remain on edge, hoping for a swift and safe resolution to one of the most brazen assaults on civilian transport in recent memory.