The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group fighting for Balochistan's independence from Pakistan, claimed responsibility for a dramatic train hijacking, where over 400 passengers were taken hostage. In a statement issued by its spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch, the group warned that any military response would lead to the execution of the captives.

The Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was ambushed in the Mushqaf area of Bolan district when BLA fighters blew up railway tracks, forcing the train to a halt. The militants then boarded the train, seizing control and allegedly killing six Pakistani military personnel.

Pakistani security forces swiftly responded, deploying teams to the site, while the Balochistan government imposed emergency measures, mobilizing all available resources to handle the crisis, according to government spokesperson Shahid Rind.

Balochistan, despite being Pakistan’s largest province by land area (covering 44% of the country's territory), remains its least populated and one of its most volatile regions. Rich in minerals and home to the strategically significant Gwadar deep-sea port, the province has long been at the heart of separatist unrest.

The BLA, the most prominent among several ethnic insurgent groups, accuses the Pakistani government of exploiting the region’s vast resources while neglecting its people.

The situation remains tense as authorities weigh their options amid the militant group's threats of retaliation.