The Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, remains under the control of Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fighters more than 24 hours after being hijacked near Dhadar, in Balochistan’s Bolan region, on Tuesday.
According to the group, at least 214 Pakistani security personnel remain hostage on the train, including senior officers, as well as paramilitary and police officials.
The Jaffar Express, which departed Quetta on Tuesday morning for a 1,600km (994-mile) journey to Peshawar, was reportedly carrying over 400 passengers, including women and children.
The BLA claims it initially detained several hundred individuals but later freed all women, children, elderly, and Baloch passengers. The group says it is now holding only “serving personnel of the occupying forces,” whom it classifies as “prisoners of war.”
“During this operation, BLA fighters released women, children, and Baloch passengers, ensuring that all remaining hostages are serving personnel of the occupying forces,”
the group said in a statement released on Tuesday.
In its statement on Tuesday, the BLA issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the “unconditional release of Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons, and national resistance activists.” Should the Pakistani authorities fail to comply, the group warned it will execute five hostages every hour once the deadline ends.
BLA Issues New Statement: ‘Only 24 Hours Left for Prisoner Exchange’
In a new statement released on Wednesday afternoon, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch reiterated the group’s demands for a prisoner exchange, stating that the Pakistani state now had only 24 hours remaining to comply.
“More than 200 serving enemy personnel—including intelligence agents, police, and paramilitary forces—remain in our custody,” Mr Baloch said. “These individuals have directly participated in state terrorism, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and looting of Baloch resources.”
He accused the Pakistani authorities of employing “delaying tactics,” describing their approach as one of “stubbornness, indifference, and continuous disregard,” which he said demonstrated their unwillingness to negotiate seriously.
“If Pakistan does not make practical progress on the prisoner exchange within the given ultimatum, all hostages will be presented before the Baloch National Court,” the statement said. “They will be tried on charges of state atrocities, colonial occupation, genocide, exploitation, and involvement in war crimes in Balochistan.”
“This trial will be prompt, impartial, and transparent,” the statement continued. “If found guilty, the criminals will be punished according to Baloch national laws.”
The spokesperson reiterated that after the ultimatum expires, five hostages would be executed every passing hour as per the decisions of the “Baloch National Court.”
BLA Fighters Issue Audio Updates from the Train
In audio messages released by the BLA on Wednesday, fighters on board the train reiterated their demands and urged the Baloch nation to “join and be part of this struggle” for “justice and survival.”
One fighter claimed the group had already repelled attempts by the Pakistani army to retake the train.
“We have come for our rights, for our survival… The Pakistan army’s reinforcements have just arrived, and two or three personnel were injured. They fled.”
Another audio recording featured a different fighter reporting from Mashkaf, saying the BLA fighters shot down a drone and stood firm against helicopter and air assaults.
“We are sitting here, and the army’s reinforcements have not arrived either. The hostages include force personnel.”
Additionally, the official media channel of the BLA, Hakkal, has released a one-minute and twenty-three-second video depicting the seizure of the Jaffar Express.
The footage opens with the train traversing a mountainous region before showing the moment it is struck by an explosive device. Later scenes capture BLA fighters descending from surrounding hills, forcing passengers to disembark, and moving among them once they are off the train. The final clips show BLA fighters in complete control of the train.
Who Has Been Killed?
Security sources claim they have killed 27 BLA fighters so far. In addition, they say at least 10 passengers—including the train driver—were killed by the attackers.
However, these numbers could not be independently verified, and the BLA strongly rejected them, describing Pakistani military statements as “complete fabrications intended to mislead the public and mask the army’s defeat.”
“Pakistani state institutions are attempting to hide their failure by claiming successes they have not achieved,”
BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch said.
On Tuesday, Mr Baloch claimed the group had pushed back Pakistani ground and aerial reinforcements after heavy fighting lasting more than eight hours.
“Pakistani ground and air reinforcements attempted an eight-hour operation to retake the train and free their captured personnel,”
he said.
“However, our fighters successfully resisted the operation, killing over 30 enemy soldiers and forcing the Pakistani troops to retreat.”
Military Operation Intensifies, Drone Strikes Reported
Pakistani military operations in Bolan were reported on Tuesday, deploying jets, drones, gunship helicopters, and commandos to retake control of the hijacked train.
Following drone strikes and artillery shelling by Pakistani forces, the BLA issued a statement threatening to execute hostages in retaliation.
Mr Baloch called Pakistan’s actions “irresponsible and foolish,” stating:
“In response to today’s reckless bombardment, we will execute ten more hostages immediately. If Pakistani forces launch another attack—even firing a single bullet—ten additional hostages will be executed immediately.”
Freed Passengers’ Accounts
At least 80 civilian passengers arrived at Machh Railway Station on Tuesday night after being released by the BLA. According to railway officials, these included 43 men, 26 women, and 11 children.
Pakistani officials used a special freight train to transport these passengers from the hijacking site to Mach, located 65km (40 miles) from Quetta and 90km (55 miles) from where the train was attacked. At Mach Station, passengers were provided food and first aid.
Freed hostages described a powerful explosion, followed by intense gunfire lasting about an hour. Mushtaq Ahmed, one passenger, told BBC, “Three armed men stood at the doors of our compartment. They told us, ‘We will not harm civilians, women, the elderly, and Baloch individuals.’”
He added that the attackers spoke in Balochi among themselves, and their leader repeatedly instructed them to keep a close watch on security personnel to prevent any escape.
Ishaq Noor recalled witnessing at least eleven individuals removed from his compartment as security personnel.
“One person resisted, and he was beaten before being taken away. Soon after, we heard gunshots.”
Meanwhile, Muhammad Ashraf recounted walking three to three-and-a-half hours to Panir Station after being freed.
“We were exhausted, and there were young girls, women, elderly individuals, and children in our group.”
“State Has Lost Control,” Says Mengal
Baloch nationalist leader Akhtar Mengal condemned Pakistani authorities, declaring they had effectively lost control of Balochistan.
“There is no longer state control in Balochistan,”
Mengal said on social media.
“They have lost this war—completely and irreversibly. Instead of listening, they mocked us, fueling a system of oppression, looting, and bloodshed. Every government has played its role in the genocide of the Baloch people.”
Mengal warned federal authorities that the crisis had reached a point beyond anyone’s control:
“This time, it is beyond our control—and yours as well.”
Chaos and Uncertainty at Quetta Railway Station
Families of the hostages gathered at Quetta Railway Station on Wednesday, expressing frustration over the lack of information about their loved ones.
“We’ve been going back and forth between the information desk and the control room since morning,”
one family member told BBC.
“No one provides clear information; we don’t even know if our loved ones are alive.”
A railway official told BBC that a relief train carrying various supplies was dispatched from Quetta to Bolan. Another official confirmed that 90 empty coffins were brought onto the platform, with plans to load an additional 130 before departure.
Railway officials clarified that the coffins were sent by the Quetta administration, not the railway authorities, and declined to offer further details.