A military operation to liberate hostages from a train hijacked by a separatist group in southwestern Pakistan concluded with numerous fatalities, according to an army spokesperson. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had seized the train, which was traveling through Balochistan's mountainous terrain, and held approximately 450 passengers. Security forces reported rescuing around 190 hostages after the militants detonated a railway line and attacked the Jaffar Express.
The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon as the train passed through a tunnel. In the ensuing military response, 33 militants and 21 hostages lost their lives. The challenging landscape complicated the rescue efforts, impacting communication and troop movement.
The BLA had issued a threat to execute hostages unless their demand for the release of Baloch political prisoners and activists was met within 48 hours. By Wednesday night, the group claimed responsibility for killing 50 hostages, citing Pakistan's refusal to negotiate a prisoner swap.
Local reports indicated that the BLA had placed suicide bombers near some hostages, complicating the rescue. An official stated that the militants were using civilians as human shields. Yousaf Bashir, a passenger who was released, recounted the terrifying experience, describing explosions and gunfire that forced everyone to take cover. After the firing ceased, militants ordered passengers off the train, allowing Bashir and his family to leave but warning them not to look back.
Those who were freed had to navigate the harsh mountain terrain for over seven hours to reach safety. In a statement, the BLA described the hijacking as a response to what it calls Pakistan's oppressive actions in Balochistan, a region long plagued by insurgency against the state. The BLA's statement emphasized their resistance to what they view as an occupying force.
Balochistan has been a hotspot for separatist activity, with the BLA responsible for several major attacks in recent years. Security analyst Zahid Hussain described the hijacking as an unprecedented escalation, highlighting the military's struggle to control the insurgency and the militants' growing recruitment efforts.