Train siege exposes one of Pakistan's biggest security nightmares: Timeline of BLA terror

An injured passenger rescued by security forces from a passenger train attacked by insurgents arrive at a railway station in Much near Quetta, Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province (AP)

Pakistan's two-day hijack ordeal finally ended on Wednesday when the army killed 33 militants of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and freed all passengers of the Jaffar Express.

As many as 21 passengers and four paramilitary soldiers were killed during the train hijacking, which is being described as one of the boldest attacks by BLA.

The militants blew up the rail tracks and opened fire on the Jaffar Express as it made its way to Peshawar in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from Quetta, the capital of mineral-rich Balochistan province. Men armed with rocket launchers, guns, and other weapons stormed the train on Tuesday and began shooting people, said a passenger who survived the incident.

The latest attack comes amid one of the most violent periods for Pakistan in recent years.

From mass kidnappings to suicide bombings, BLA has carried out a series of high-profile attacks in the country over the last few months, leaving hundreds dead. The group seeks to establish an independent Baloch state, encompassing territories in Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan where the Baloch ethnic group lives.

Year of relentless violence

Throughout 2024 and early 2025, the banned separatist group unleashed terror in Pakistan, targeting civilians, security forces and infrastructure projects linked to the ambitious China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

January 30, 2024: Early last year, BLA launched coordinated rocket attacks on Mach town, targeting security camps, a railway station and businesses. The attack lasted three days, leaving 24 terrorists, four security personnel and two civilians dead.

March 20, 2024: Eight BLA militants stormed the Gwadar Port Authority Colony, killing two soldiers before being gunned down by security forces.

April 13, 2024: Nine passengers from Punjab were executed near Noshki after being forced off a bus by gunmen who checked identity cards.

August 26-27, 2024: One of the bloodiest days in Balochistan’s history saw 50 people killed, including 14 security personnel, as BLA militants rampaged through police stations, Levies camps and infrastructure sites.

November 9, 2024: A suicide bombing at Quetta Railway Station killed 26 people, including 16 security personnel, with the BLA’s lethal Majeed Brigade claiming responsibility.

January 9, 2025: In one of the most audacious attacks, 80 BLA terrorists stormed Khuzdar’s Zehri district, torching government buildings, looting a bank, and ransacking a Levies station.

February 19, 2025: Seven passengers traveling to Punjab were executed after being pulled from buses in Balochistan’s Barkhan district.

March 3, 2025: A female suicide bomber from the BLA-Azad faction targeted a Frontier Corps convoy in Kalat, killing one personnel and injuring four others.

Security nightmare

Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, is home to a long-running violent insurgency. Baloch insurgent groups frequently carry out attacks targeting security personnel, government projects and the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects in the oil and mineral-rich province.

The spurt in BLA attacks has caused a security nightmare for Pakistan, keeping the security agencies on edge since Balochistan is at the heart of CPEC. The insurgents have also targeted Chinese nationals working on CPEC.

According to the Pakistan Security Report, BLA-led attacks surged by a worrying 119% in 2024, accounting for 171 incidents and causing 225 fatalities.

Islamabad-based independent analyst Abdullah Khan told AP that the train hijacking was the worst attack to date by the BLA — and predicted the country will be shocked when the final details surface, including the number of casualties, which he expects to be high.