A complex terrorist attack was carried out on the ‘Jaffar Express’ train near the Mashkaf tunnel, about 157 kilometers from Quetta, near a tunnel. The assailants initiated an explosion on the railway tracks, subsequently infiltrating the train and assuming command of it. The train was carrying approximately 450 passengers, including several members of security forces. According to reports from state-run media outlets, the assailants positioned themselves in close proximity to hostages, including numerous women and children, and utilised them as human shields. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. According to local security sources, at least 190 passengers were successfully evacuated, while 30 attackers were neutralised. The attack is still ongoing as Pakistani security forces attempt to regain control of the train.
The United Nations has called for the immediate release of the hostages, while the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has urged peaceful political solutions to the crisis. The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) has documented 782 deaths related to terrorism in Balochistan in 2024, including those of civilians, security personnel, and terrorists, according to the most recent annual report.
