BLA asserts 82 Pakistani military personnel killed in Quetta cantonment train attack

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for an attack near Quetta, asserting that 82 Pakistani military personnel were killed and over 121 injured in the assault on a military shuttle train on Sunday, close to Chaman Phatak and the Quetta Cantonment railway station.

In a detailed statement, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch described the operation as a “highly complex, organized, and joint effort” conducted by its Majeed Brigade, its elite “fidayee” unit, and its intelligence arm, ZIRAB.

The group stated that the target was a specific military shuttle train transporting Pakistani army personnel from Quetta Cantonment, intended to be attached to the Jaffar Express. The casualties included a mix of junior and senior army officials, including JCOs, NCOs, regular soldiers, and newly recruited personnel from various units such as the Frontier Force Regiment, Baloch Regiment, EME Centre, Infantry School, Cavalry, Punjab Regiment, Field Artillery, Signals, and Medium Artillery.

The operation was carried out by Bilal Shahwani, also known as Saahin, whom the BLA identified as a “fidayee” commander within the Majeed Brigade.

The attack targeted what the military describes as the Pakistani army’s “new and clandestine travel protocol,” introduced after the hijacking of the Jaffar Express and a previous attack on Quetta railway station in November 2024, carried out by Rafiq Bizenjo Baloch of the Majeed Brigade. The BLA claimed that these incidents had significantly weakened the military’s traditional defense mechanisms, prompting a shift in how personnel are transferred from public railway stations to avoid BLA fighters.

Under the new security measures, the group said, four to five railway carriages were moved inside the high-security zone of Quetta Cantonment at night, before being assembled into a shuttle train with a separate locomotive. This train was then brought out of the cantonment just thirty minutes before the Jaffar Express’s departure, in an attempt to hide troop movements from the BLA.

The statement claimed that the Pakistani military believed this internal infrastructure would shield troop movements from attack, further noting that the military had begun constructing high-security walls along the track from the cantonment to the railway station to safeguard the route. Security measures included deploying Quick Response Force units with heavy weapons near Koila Phatak and Pishin Stop bridge, along with foot patrols from Chaman Phatak.

The BLA described these measures as a shift from traditional security methods to a more defensive posture. It also claimed that its intelligence wing, ZIRAB, had conducted extensive reconnaissance of the altered security arrangements, timings, and internal communications, granting the group “deep access” into military zones and decision-making processes.

According to the statement, the operation was executed with such precision that even a five-minute variance could have thwarted the attack. Shahwani reportedly crossed all security barriers and carried out the strike around 8 am as the train reached Chaman Phatak.

The group claimed that 336 military personnel were aboard the train, and the attack incapacitated the defending force of 74 heavily armed soldiers, rendering their weaponry and ammunition useless within seconds.

The BLA rejected official accounts that classified the casualties as civilians, accusing Pakistani media and officials of attempting to conceal the military casualties by fabricating a narrative of civilian deaths. The group emphasized that the targeted train was a dedicated military shuttle, not a regular passenger train, and that civilian access to the area was strictly prohibited.

The BLA reiterated its policy of targeting only military and state-backed entities, emphasizing that it does not attack civilians or non-combatants. Its focus remains on military installations, government institutions, and groups it accuses of exploiting Baloch resources.

In closing, the BLA highlighted Shahwani’s role as a testament to its “institutional evolution and ideological superiority.” The group portrayed his willingness to undertake a “fidayee” mission as evidence that the organization has advanced beyond traditional guerrilla tactics to a modern, disciplined military structure. The statement emphasized that such actions reflect a strategic shift towards collective national goals, sacrifice, and ideological resolve.

The BLA vowed that Shahwani’s sacrifice would serve as a “universal principle” for oppressed peoples’ struggles. It asserted that Pakistan’s efforts to fortify its defenses—such as building walls or changing security protocols—would be futile against the resolve of the Baloch resistance. The group concluded by reaffirming its commitment to continue its “organized, principled, and ideological war” until Baloch sovereignty and independence are achieved.