SCO Summit: Pakistan witnessed one of its deadliest train hijackings when militants on 11 March 2025, from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) targeted the Jaffar Express, travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. Over 400 passengers were on board when explosives were detonated on the tracks in the Bolan Pass. Militants opened fire and seized control of the train, issuing a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners.
In response, Pakistan’s armed forces launched Operation Green Bolan to rescue the hostages. After a 36-hour standoff, security forces freed 354 passengers. The operation came at a heavy cost, with 64 lives lost, including 18 soldiers, railway staff, civilians, and dozens of BLA fighters. Pakistan later alleged that the attackers were in contact with handlers in Afghanistan, even hinting at Indian involvement, an accusation New Delhi has strongly denied.
SCO Summit condemned the Jaffar Express attack
The hijacking sparked immediate global outrage. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which includes India, China, Russia, Pakistan, and other regional states, strongly condemned the Jaffar Express attack in its Tianjin Declaration. Alongside the assaults in Pahalgam and Khuzdar, the incident was labelled an act of terrorism that required justice for its victims. The declaration stressed that double standards in counter-terrorism were unacceptable and called for the United Nations’ framework to be fully implemented.
India’s position
For New Delhi, the SCO statement held significance as it acknowledged cross-border terrorism, echoing India’s long-standing concerns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his address at the summit, urged member states to adopt a “zero-tolerance approach” towards terrorism. He also raised the issue during his bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, stressing that both India and China have been victims of such attacks.
Pakistan’s allegations
Pakistan’s military and political leadership framed the hijacking as part of a larger destabilisation attempt. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry of the Inter-Services Public Relations accused India of sponsoring the BLA, while criticising Indian media for amplifying militant propaganda. Islamabad further linked the incident to broader unrest in Balochistan, a province that has long been at the heart of separatist insurgencies.