By Afshain Afzal

Widespread rumours and fake news are being propagated that Pakistani passenger train, Jaffar Express has been hijacked and Baloch Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for hijacking the train. Railways authorities Quetta confirmed that Jaffar Express, carrying 500 passengers in nine coaches departed from Quetta at 0900 hours on 11th March, 2025 was hijacked by armed militants at Tunnel No 8 in Mashkaf Tunnel, located around 157 kilometres from Quetta and approximately 21 kilometers from Sibi. As per the ground details railway track on Tunnel Number 8, was blown that caused the train to derail and was subsequent taken over by the militants. Controller Railways Quetta immediate reaction was that “Till now we are unable to make any contact with passengers or crew members." Ironically, a day earlier Balochistan’s Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claims to have received a threat alert, regarding a planned attack by Baloch separatists.

The train-hijacking incident took place at the time when world representatives were busy for an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. In his report to the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, urged, “Regional organisations must empower member states to fight terrorism in accordance with the rule of law and human rights” and “Regional missions must respect the prohibition on the use of force as strictly interpreted by the International Court of Justice.” In other words engagement with diverse civil society organisations in preventing terrorism was agreed upon.

Regarding the hijacking, as per the official version Terrorists claims to have taken 182 as hostage and intense firing was also reported. According to sources armed men dressed in Salwar Kameez and at least three in Military design uniform were controlling the train once it was derailed. Muhammad Nadeem a passenger informed that armed individuals did not stop Jaffar Express but was taken over by armed men when driver of the train stopped the train when he saw damage to track at Tunnel No 8. He clarified that in many places in Balochistan there are no mobile signals and place of incident was one of these places. If we recall, last year in August 2024, militants attacked Kolpur and Dozan railway stations in Bolan. Similarly, on 25 December 2024, Pakistan Railways announced the suspension of the Jaffar Express operations between Quetta and Peshawar.

We cannot ignore that in July 2024, Railways Authorities floated a tender under PEPRA Rules to outsource (Private) 22 trains throughout Pakistan. In February 2025, Railways announced privatisation of 7 trains including Karachi Express, Farid Express, Bahauddin Zakariya Express, Sukkur Express, Mohenjo Daro Express and Rawalpindi Passenger train. On 11 February 2025, bogie of Jaffar Express derailed near Naseerabad, Balochistan as the train was travelling from Lahore to Quetta. All these incidents are causing billions of rupees loss each month to Pakistan Railways so that the corruption, inefficiency, poor management is justified under the garb of law and order situation. One wonders if the incident was linked with bidding of outsourcing or privatization of the trains.

There can be no doubt in the fact regarding the sabotage and terrorism linked with Railways that was thoroughly investigated in year 2010 to 2012 and in later years, which confirmed that railway employees having families in India were behind these incidents and were also involved in circulating fake threat related handout, a day earlier or immediately at the time of terrorist incidents. During this period the incidents that took place in Sindh and Balochistan, which were attributed to Balochistan Liberation Army and other nationalists confirmed to be carried out by the transport mafia and those who were on the payroll of the Indian agencies. No doubt if the railway system is allowed to run smoothly all the cargo and good chunk of passengers, according to the capacity of Railways, will be permanently shifted to the travel by rail.

As per the latest side investigation it was also revealed that Dhadar area of Sibi had British time offices and residence where a Signal setup was also stationed. Now there are plans to evacuate the whole population from this area and develop it as tourist spot attracting the Hindus, Europeans and others. Meanwhile, where the Inter Services Public Relations is silent over the incident, the Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the incident, saying: “The beasts who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions.” If we recall, in November 2024, at least 26 people were killed and 62 injured when a gas cylinder exploded being carried out by passenger at Quetta Railways Station but was canvassed as it was a suicide blast at Railway Station. Official statements must be given after due confirmation as neither Balochistan nationalist or any separation group has taken the responsibility nor the incident took place as being reported. No doubt, it was an attempt to show loose writ of the government and insecure Pakistan for investment.