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Pakistan’s military has been locked in a deadly standoff for over 24 hours with armed militants who hijacked a train and took hostages, marking a dramatic escalation in a long-running insurgency that has destabilized the region for decades.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group active in the resource-rich but volatile Balochistan province, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Jaffer Express, carrying around 450 passengers from Quetta, Balochistan’s capital, to Peshawar in northern Pakistan, came under heavy gunfire as it passed through a tunnel early in its journey, officials reported.

Pakistan’s military launched an operation to confront the attackers, who, according to security sources, used women and children as human shields.

By early Wednesday morning, at least 155 hostages had been rescued, while 27 militants were killed, according to security officials. Footage captured frightened but relieved passengers, including elderly women, men, and children, as they reunited with their families. However, the number of hostages still in captivity remains unclear.

One rescued woman described the chaotic aftermath of the attack, likening it to “the Day of Judgement”. Speaking to CNN, she recounted how she fled the gunfire and walked for two hours to safety.

Passenger Mohammad Ashraf told CNN he saw over 100 armed militants on the train but noted that women and children were unharmed.

At least 10 civilians and security personnel were killed in the attack, according to government and railway officials.

Security sources accused the militants of coordinating with handlers in Afghanistan, a charge Pakistan’s military and government have repeatedly made against the Afghan Taliban regime, though Kabul denies these allegations.

Dozens of injured hostages were rushed to hospitals for treatment, while rescue operations continue for those still held captive.

The hijacking of the Jaffer Express marks a bold escalation in the Baloch separatist insurgency, which has long demanded greater political autonomy and economic development in the strategically significant and resource-rich province.

However, the attack also exposes Pakistan’s deteriorating security situation, an issue that successive governments have struggled to contain.

Balochistan, home to the ethnic Baloch population, has long suffered from poverty, marginalization, and a deepening disconnect from the federal government, which many see as pursuing discriminatory policies.

The Baloch insurgency—active for decades—has gained renewed momentum in recent years, particularly following the leasing of Gwadar’s deep-water port to China, a key component of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

While often hailed as a potential economic hub, Gwadar has become a security hotspot, with repeated bombings targeting Chinese workers, leading to numerous casualties.

Russia reported a "massive" overnight drone assault by Ukraine on Tuesday, just hours before critical diplomatic discussions between U.S. and Ukrainian officials began.

According to Russia’s Defense Ministry, a total of 343 drones were launched by Ukraine, with 91 targeting the Moscow region. The ministry also claimed that six strike drones were intercepted near Russia’s Kursk nuclear power plant.

If these figures are confirmed, this would mark one of the most extensive aerial attacks on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin described the incident as the “most massive” drone attack on the capital to date.

• Falling debris from intercepted drones damaged buildings, and ignited a fire in a parking lot, burning more than 20 cars, according to regional Governor Andrey Vorobyev.
• Three people were killed, and at least six others were injured, local officials reported.
• Two major Moscow airports, along with two airports east of the city, were temporarily closed for safety reasons, with several flights redirected, according to state-run news agency TASS.
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The Ukrainian Armed Forces stated that the attack specifically targeted the production facilities of the Moscow Oil Refinery. They also accused Russia of causing collateral damage to civilian infrastructure due to its own air defense response.

Meanwhile, Ukraine also faced Russian ballistic missile and drone strikes overnight. According to Ukrainian authorities, at least one person was killed and 18 others injured during the attacks.

The drone strikes came just ahead of high-stakes negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are meeting with Ukraine’s national security adviser, foreign minister, and defense minister.

“We will protect Ukrainian interests, have a clear vision of ending the war, and work effectively with our American partners,” said Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
 

Ahead of the meeting, Rubio stated that the U.S. seeks to understand what concessions Ukraine might consider in potential peace negotiations with Russia. He also noted that the outcome of these talks could influence Washington’s decision on resuming military aid and full intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

CNN previously reported that while the U.S. continues to share intelligence with Ukraine, it has scaled back information that could be used for offensive strikes on Russian forces. Two U.S. defense officials confirmed that intelligence is still being provided for defensive operations but is limited for offensive targeting.