On 11 March 2025, the Jaffar Express, a Pakistani passenger train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar with about 440[6] people on board,[5] was hijacked by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

From 11 to 12 March, Pakistani military forces made multiple raids on the hijacked train eventually releasing 346 hostages, and killing all 33 BLA insurgents.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack as "cowardly acts", sent condolences to the victims' families and, after the resolution of the crisis, said that the BLA members "have been sent to hell".

[13] Members of the organization stated that their intentions were to achieve regional independence from Pakistan and control over the land's natural resources, primarily its oil and minerals.

[4] At 9 a.m. on 11 March 2025, the Jaffar Express passenger train departed Quetta en route for Peshawar, a journey of around 1,600 kilometres (990 mi).

[14] The BLA released some civilian hostages such as Balochistan residents, the elderly, women, and children while keeping those who are government workers or military personal on leave to return to their homes in Punjab for Ramadan.

[27][28][25] The same day that the hijacking occurred, BLA issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Pakistani government in which political prisoners, including Baloch movement affiliates, were to be unconditionally released.

Pakistan's leaders voiced strong opposition towards the hijack of the Jaffar Express, with President Asif Ali Zardari praising his country's security forces for rescuing the passengers from the BLA.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed hope that the security forces could eliminate the "coward terrorists", who he considered enemies of Balochistan's progress.

[45] In a post on X, Sharif said that he spoke to Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti regarding the hijacking, and condemned the incident as "cowardly acts" that did not subvert his nation's goals for "resolve for peace" in a speech the day after the attack.

[47] Punjab governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan also condemned the attack, considering the insurgents to be inhuman for targeting civilians and wishing for the speedy recovery of injured victims.

[48] Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party leader Asad Qaiser voiced concern over the attack but also claimed that Balochistan's flawed government policies allowed for it to occur.

[49] On X, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed being "gravely concerned" by the attack and advocated for "urgent rights-based, pro-people consensus on the issues faced by citizens in Balochistan and to find a peaceful, political solution".