Pakistan Launches Major Operation to Free Train Passengers Held Hostage by Militants in Balochistan
In a dramatic escalation of violence, Pakistani security forces launched a full-scale operation on Wednesday to rescue dozens of train passengers who were taken hostage by militants in the rugged southwest.
As of the latest reports, 155 passengers have been freed, with an unknown number still held captive in the remote mountainous areas of Balochistan, a province on the border with Iran and Afghanistan.
The crisis began Tuesday afternoon when militants bombed a section of the railway track and seized control of the Jafar Express at the entrance to a tunnel in the Sibi district of Balochistan. According to security sources, over 450 passengers were on board when the train was hijacked, though many have since been freed.
“Some of the militants have reportedly fled the scene, taking an undisclosed number of hostages with them into the nearby mountainous regions,” said a security official in the area. As the operation continued into Wednesday, there were reports that some of the terrorists had strategically positioned suicide bombers near the hostages, increasing the peril for those still trapped.
The hostage situation has already claimed the lives of three individuals, including the train driver, during the siege. In response, Pakistani forces mobilized a comprehensive rescue operation, which, according to the latest information, resulted in the release of 155 hostages and the elimination of 27 militants. The operation is ongoing, with authorities working to free the remaining captives. Among those freed were 31 women and 15 children.
Local sources described the terrifying experience of the passengers who were freed, with many recounting harrowing journeys through difficult, mountainous terrain to reach safety. “We walked for hours, and the fear was overwhelming. I can’t put into words the terror we experienced,” said Muhammad Bilal, a passenger who was traveling with his mother. He recalled the uncertainty and fear of the situation, which saw hostages being moved under duress.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group that has been responsible for a series of high-profile attacks in the region, claimed responsibility for the assault.
The BLA has escalated its campaign against security forces and ethnic groups from outside the province, demanding the release of its detained members in exchange for peace.
The group’s recent attacks have further fueled tensions in Balochistan, where various infrastructure and energy projects funded by China have made the region a hotspot for conflict.
The situation aboard the train revealed a chilling level of selective violence, with gunmen reportedly sifting through identity cards to separate locals from those they considered outsiders. One survivor described how militants killed two soldiers and abducted several others, targeting individuals th
ey identified as Punjabis—a reflection of the ongoing ethnic tensions in the area. “The terrorists took those who were Punjabis, leaving others behind,” a freed passenger recounted, still shaken by the ordeal.
While many of the freed passengers were brought to Quetta, the provincial capital, under heavy security, the crisis remains far from over.
Authorities continue to restrict access to certain parts of Balochistan, a region of strategic importance due to its major infrastructure projects, including a deep-water port and an airport that are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
As the operation unfolds, Pakistan’s security forces face the challenging task of navigating both the mountainous terrain and the volatile political landscape of Balochistan to ensure the safe release of the remaining hostages.
