The Pakistan Army confirmed that 18 of the 26 hostages killed by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) militants in a train attack were army and paramilitary personnel.
During a press conference with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that the hostages were killed before the military operation began.
“Among the 26 victims, 18 were army and paramilitary personnel, three were government officials, and five were civilians,” he said.
He added that five paramilitary soldiers from the Frontier Corps died during the operation, including four killed when the train was initially attacked.
The attack and military response
On Tuesday, BLA militants ambushed the Jaffar Express in the Bolan area of Balochistan and took passengers hostage. The train carried over 400 passengers, prompting security forces to launch an operation that lasted until Wednesday evening.
The military stormed the hijacked train, ending a 30-hour siege. They eliminated all 33 terrorists and rescued over 300 passengers. According to the army spokesperson, 354 hostages were freed, including 37 injured passengers.
Chaudhry explained the difficulties of the operation, highlighting the rugged terrain. The militants had destroyed railway tracks and attacked a Frontier Corps security post, killing four soldiers. Due to the presence of suicide bombers, the operation required careful planning. “No casualties occurred during the final assault,” he said. “This was one of the most successful train hijacking rescue operations, completed in 36 hours.”
Allegations against India and Afghanistan
Chaudhry accused India of destabilising the region, claiming, “our eastern neighbour remains the primary sponsor of terrorism in Pakistan.” He also presented a video allegedly showing former Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Jadhav confessing to the involvement of India’s intelligence agency, RAW, in Balochistan.
India dismissed the allegations, stating that Pakistan should address its internal challenges instead of blaming external entities. India also reaffirmed that “the global community knows where the origins of terrorism lie.”
Chaudhry also linked the attack to Afghanistan, asserting that Afghan militants had participated in past operations within Pakistan. He showed footage of Afghan insurgents killed in various counterterrorism operations.
Counterterrorism efforts and political response
The army spokesperson stated that Pakistan’s security forces conduct approximately 180 intelligence-led operations daily to counter terrorism. He reported that 59,775 operations were carried out in 2024, with 11,654 more conducted so far in 2025. He added that 1,250 militants had been killed in this period, along with 563 security personnel.
Chaudhry attributed the rise in militant activities to developments in Afghanistan. He claimed extremist groups, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were receiving support, training, and weapons from Afghanistan, aided by stockpiles left behind by US forces.
Chief Minister Bugti addressed inconsistencies in passenger numbers. While 425 tickets were issued, he suggested not all ticket holders boarded at the starting station, and some were expected to board later. He also speculated that some passengers fled during the attack and might return in the coming days. He noted that two hiding passengers resurfaced the previous day.
Bugti praised the security forces for their swift response and acknowledged international support following the attack. He called for a firm approach in handling militancy, stating, “Violence should be treated as violence, and Baloch militants are aligned with TTP.” He also stressed the need for governance reforms in Balochistan to improve security and stability in the region.
