Armed militants hijacked a passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on March 11, 2025. The attackers, identified as members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), blew up the railway track, forcing the train to stop in a remote area. They then boarded the train and took control, separating men from women.
The Pakistani security forces launched an operation, rescuing more than 100 passengers while killing 16 militants. However, the exchange of heavy gunfire resulted in the deaths of at least 20 soldiers. The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, continuing its insurgency against the Pakistani state.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but poorest province, has long been home to separatist movements. Militants claim that the region’s natural resources are exploited by outsiders, leaving little benefit for locals.
