Separatist Militants in Pakistan Take Train Passengers Hostage

Pakistani officials say separatist militants attacked a train, injuring the locomotive driver and taking hundreds of passengers hostage. The passenger train was en route from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, to Peshawar when it was ambushed by armed militants. Muhammad Kashif, a spokesman for the Balochistan Railway, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that the attack occurred on Tuesday, March 21, while the train was passing through a tunnel. He stated that the train is currently stopped inside the tunnel. According to local officials, the attacked train was carrying over 400 passengers, but the separatist group 'Baloch Liberation Army,' which claimed responsibility for the attack, stated in a statement that they have released civilian hostages. The group claims to have control of the train and has freed civilian passengers, particularly women, children, the elderly, and Baloch citizens, while eight military personnel were killed during the resistance against the attack. The Baloch Liberation Army claims that over 100 passengers are still hostages, including an unknown number of intelligence and security officers among them. Reports indicate that clashes between militants and Pakistani army forces are ongoing. Pakistani police later announced that the separatist group has taken 35 train passengers hostage and that approximately 350 civilian passengers are safe. Balochistan province, a vast and resource-rich area, is impoverished and has faced significant unrest and insurgency. A recent example of this unrest was a suicide bomb explosion at Quetta train station in November 2024, carried out by members of the Baloch Liberation Army, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including military personnel, railway workers, and passengers.