Pakistan’s military has been locked in a fierce confrontation for over 24 hours with armed militants who hijacked a passenger train and took hostages, marking a significant escalation in the region’s long-standing insurgency.
The Jaffer Express, carrying approximately 450 passengers from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar, came under heavy gunfire as it passed through a tunnel early in its journey.
Among those taken hostage were members of Pakistan’s military, police, the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who were traveling on leave to Punjab.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group active in resource-rich Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the assault inside the Bolan tunnel.
The group threatened to execute all passengers if security forces attempted a rescue and demanded the release of imprisoned members in exchange for the hostages.
However, by Wednesday, Pakistani security forces launched an operation that resulted in the rescue of 155 hostages and the killing of 27 militants.
Reports indicated that the attackers allegedly used women and children as human shields during the confrontation.
A woman who managed to escape described the attack as a scene of utter chaos, comparing it to the “Day of Judgment.”
She recalled running from gunfire and walking for two hours to find safety. Another passenger, Mohammad Ashraf, reported seeing over 100 armed men on the train but noted that women and children were not harmed.
Authorities confirmed that at least 10 civilians and security personnel lost their lives in the incident, while many injured hostages were taken to hospitals for treatment. The military operation to free the remaining captives is ongoing.
Reacting to the crisis, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, vowing to eradicate terrorism in the country.
He criticized the militants for targeting innocent passengers, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, emphasizing that their actions had no connection to Islam, Pakistan, or Balochistan.