A major security crisis unfolded in southwest Pakistan as separatist militants hijacked a passenger train, taking scores of passengers hostage and complicating rescue efforts. Suicide bombers were reportedly seated among the hostages, making the situation even more perilous, security sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, saw around 50 insurgents from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) blow up a railway track and fire rockets at the Jaffar Express. The train, carrying more than 400 passengers, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it came under assault.
Footage shared by the militant group showed an explosion hitting the tracks just as the train approached, followed by passengers being dragged off after it was halted outside a tunnel. The authenticity of the video could not be independently verified.
A large-scale military operation, including troops and helicopters, has been launched to free the hostages trapped in the remote mountainous region. The government reported that 155 passengers had been rescued by Wednesday, but the exact number of those still in captivity remains unclear. The BLA, however, claimed it was holding 214 people hostage.
At least 11 people, including paramilitary personnel, have been killed in the attack. The train’s driver, who suffered severe injuries, also succumbed to his wounds, according to police and railway officials.
The militants have issued an ultimatum, threatening to start executing hostages unless the Pakistani government releases Baloch political prisoners and activists within 48 hours. A message shared by the BLA urged people in Balochistan to support their fight against the state.
A security source revealed that the militants systematically identified and removed passengers, specifically searching for soldiers and security personnel. Additionally, reports indicate that BLA fighters, with explosives strapped to their bodies, were seated among civilians, further complicating rescue efforts.
The Pakistani military has engaged in fierce clashes with the insurgents, killing at least 27 BLA fighters, according to security officials. The group, however, denied suffering any casualties.
Amid the chaos, families of the passengers anxiously awaited updates in Quetta, where over 50 rescued individuals had been brought under tight security. Emotional scenes unfolded as relatives pleaded for the safe return of their loved ones.
"I beg you with folded hands, please bring my child back," a distraught mother told provincial minister Mir Zahoor Buledi. "If the train was never going to reach its destination, why let it depart?"
At Quetta railway station, a Reuters journalist reported seeing nearly 100 empty coffins, underscoring fears of further casualties.
In response to the attack, Pakistan Railways has suspended all train operations from Punjab and Sindh to Balochistan until security agencies declare the area safe. Authorities continue to monitor the situation as the rescue mission intensifies.