The death toll from a militant attack on a train in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province has climbed to 31, including soldiers, railway staff, and passengers, the military said on Friday. Officials accused India and Afghanistan of supporting the insurgents behind the assault.
The separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s hijacking, alleged in a statement that its fighters had taken 214 hostages and executed all of them. However, the group did not provide any evidence to substantiate the claim.
The attackers seized control of the Jaffar Express in a remote mountainous area, detonating explosives on the railway tracks before engaging in a prolonged standoff with security forces.
Military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reported that soldiers had killed 33 insurgents, rescued 354 hostages, and successfully ended the siege. He dismissed the BLA’s claim of executing additional hostages, stating there was no indication that more people had been taken.
Revised casualty figures confirmed that 23 soldiers, three railway employees, and five passengers were killed during the attack and subsequent rescue operation—an increase from the previous estimate of 25.
Chaudhry reiterated Pakistan’s assertion that India and Afghanistan had provided support to the BLA, echoing earlier allegations by the foreign ministry. Both countries have denied any involvement.
In response, the BLA vowed to continue its fight, declaring in a statement, “This battle is not over yet but has intensified.”
The BLA is the largest and most powerful of several armed Baloch separatist factions seeking independence for the resource-rich province. Balochistan is home to significant China-backed infrastructure projects, including the Gwadar port and major mineral extraction sites.