Pakistan’s military successfully freed more than 300 hostages from a passenger train that had been seized by militants in the restive province of Balochistan. The harrowing ordeal, which lasted over 30 hours, ended with the deaths of 33 militants, according to a military spokesperson.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which has been designated as a terrorist organization by Pakistan as well as several Western countries including the UK and the US, carried out the hijacking on Tuesday. The group, known for its long-standing insurgency demanding greater autonomy or independence for Balochistan, had threatened to kill the hostages unless authorities released Baloch political prisoners within 48 hours.
Tragically, before the military could intervene, 21 civilian hostages and four security personnel were killed by the militants. The situation further escalated when the attackers detonated a section of the railway tracks and opened fire near a mountain tunnel, causing widespread panic among passengers.
Eyewitnesses recounted the horror of the attack, with one survivor, Ishaq Noor, describing the experience as a “doomsday scene.” Many passengers held their breath in terror as bullets riddled the train. Communication with authorities was severely hindered due to the remote location’s lack of mobile and internet connectivity, making rescue efforts even more challenging.
As the attack unfolded, some passengers managed to escape into the wilderness. Among them was Muhammad Ashraf, who had been traveling from Quetta to Lahore to visit his family. He, along with other survivors, endured an arduous four-hour walk to the nearest railway station. “We reached the station with great difficulty, because we were tired and there were children and women with us,” he told the BBC.
The rescue operation, which involved helicopters and hundreds of troops, was launched in the early hours of Wednesday. By morning, more than 100 passengers had already been freed. Military officials continue to sweep the area to ensure no remaining threats linger.
A spokesperson for the Pakistani military has vowed that all individuals responsible for the attack will be brought to justice, reinforcing the government’s commitment to combating terrorism in the volatile region
