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Pakistan Blames India and Afghanistan for Deadly Balochistan Train Hijacking

The Jaffar Express hijacking, claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army, resulted in 26 deaths and a high-stakes military rescue operation.

Soldiers board a relief train headed to Bolan, where a passenger train was attacked by separatist militants, at a railway station in Mach, Balochistan, Pakistan.
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The Pakistan Army on Thursday claimed that it killed 10 militants suspected to be affiliated to Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
Rescue workers transport a coffin containing the body of a victim from a passenger train attacked by insurgents, upon arrival at a railway station in Much, Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, Thursday March 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)

Overview

  • Pakistani authorities allege that the Balochistan Liberation Army attackers were in contact with Afghan handlers and accuse India of masterminding the operation.
  • The hijacking of the Jaffar Express in the Bolan Pass involved 440 passengers, with 354 rescued after a 36-hour standoff and military operation.
  • The military-led rescue operation, named Operation Green Bolan, employed drones and elite forces, killing all 33 BLA militants involved while avoiding further hostage casualties.
  • The Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist group with a history of violent attacks, has intensified its insurgency, citing grievances over economic exploitation and political marginalization.
  • India and Afghanistan have denied Pakistan's accusations, with both calling on Islamabad to address its internal issues rather than blaming external actors.