In a shocking act of terror, a train hijacking in Balochistan turned into a tense hostage crisis on Tuesday. Armed militants attacked the Jaffar Express while it was passing through a remote area of the Bolan Pass. More than 400 passengers were held hostage, including a large number of security personnel.
Security forces launched a major rescue operation in the Dhadar area. At least 27 terrorists were killed during the offensive. Officials also confirmed the death of at least 10 people, including the train’s driver. The actual number of casualties is still unknown.
Rescue teams managed to save over 190 passengers, including women and children, from the dangerous mountains of Bolan. According to sources, 30 attackers were neutralized by the troops. It is still unclear whether the rescued people were freed through direct action or released by the assailants themselves.
The operation continued near the Mushkaf Tunnel. Authorities said efforts to recover the remaining captives and hunt down the attackers were ongoing. This train hijacking in Balochistan was the first of its kind. No previous incident has involved a full train and its passengers being taken hostage.
The banned outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) took responsibility for the attack. The group claimed they held many people hostage and later released some, including women and children. However, these statements could not be independently confirmed.
According to railway officials, the Jaffar Express departed from Quetta at 9am for Peshawar. Around 1pm, officials received a report that the train was under attack between Paneer and Peshi railway stations. The attack occurred near Railway Tunnel No. 8, close to Mushkaf.
The terrorists fired rockets at the train engine and opened fire. The train stopped when the driver got seriously injured. A fierce gun battle broke out between the security personnel and the attackers. Some security officials were martyred during the exchange. The terrorists then checked passengers’ identities and took some hostages before retreating into the mountains.
Sources said the attackers were heavily armed with rocket launchers and automatic rifles. They also blew up a section of the railway track with explosives. Due to intense military action, the terrorists split into smaller groups. Injured passengers were shifted to a nearby hospital, while more troops joined the operation.
Railways Divisional Superintendent Imran Hayat said that ten people were killed, including the train’s driver and eight security officials. The rescue mission was being carried out with extra care, as the terrorists were using hostages as human shields.
Around 190 passengers were successfully rescued and moved to the Paneer railway station. A relief train later transported them to the Mach station. Authorities are still working to secure the release of the remaining passengers.
Initially, about 750 tickets were booked for the train. However, the train left with around 450 people onboard. Among them were over 200 security personnel.
In response to the train hijacking in Balochistan, the government declared an emergency at Sibi hospital. Ambulances and security forces rushed to the scene. Government spokesperson Shahid Rind said all institutions had been put on high alert. He added that the scale of the attack was still being evaluated.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry stated that the terrorists used hostages as human shields. He confirmed that the operation was still in progress. “They are cowards,” he said. “They pick soft targets and attack from hiding.”
President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the attack and praised the security forces for their effective response. He called the attack inhumane and brutal. He said those who harm innocent passengers are enemies of Balochistan and its culture. “The Baloch nation rejects these heinous acts,” he stated.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the security personnel. He said their timely action forced the terrorists to retreat. “These beasts who carry out such cowardly acts deserve no mercy,” he said. He stressed that attacking innocent people during Ramazan showed these terrorists had no connection to Islam, Pakistan, or Balochistan.
“We will continue our fight against terrorism until it is wiped out,” the Prime Minister added. “We will not allow anti-national forces to create unrest. The nation stands united with its security forces.”
