Home to about 15 million of Pakistan’s estimated 240 million people, according to the 2023 census, Balochistan remains the country’s poorest region despite being rich in natural resources such as coal, gold, copper, and gas. These resources generate substantial revenue for the federal government.

Pakistan Army eliminates 33 militants, rescues passengers in Balochistan train attack; BLA claims responsibility; US, EU condemn attack.

A spokesman also repeated accusations that India and Afghanistan backed the militants responsible. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Baloch separatists have repeatedly attacked the Jaffar Express in the last few years. It is commonly used by security personnel, mostly from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. The last major attack on the train took place in November when a suicide bomber detonated himself at the Quetta railway station as it prepared to depart.

More than 340 train passengers taken hostage by a militant group were freed Wednesday by security forces after a 30-hour siege, an army official told AFP, confi

"We categorically reject baseless allegations by Pakistani army spokesperson linking attack on a passenger train in Balochistan province with Afghanistan," foreign ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in a statement posted on X.

Insurgents who attacked a passenger train carrying 440 passengers in restive southwestern Pakistan killed 21 hostages before

By bno Chennai bureau The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, attacked and held hostage the Jaffar Express, a passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar in Pakistan between March 11 and 12.