Pakistani security forces engaged in a tense standoff on Wednesday with hundreds of militants who hijacked a train in the remote southwest, holding about 250 passengers hostage. The attackers, armed with explosive vests, barricaded themselves inside the train to deter a full-scale assault by security personnel.
The separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, demanding the release of jailed militants in exchange for the hostages. The government has not commented but has previously rejected such demands.
The attack began Tuesday in Bolan, Balochistan, when approximately 60 militants blew up the railway track and fired rockets at the Jaffar Express, which was carrying over 400 passengers. By late Wednesday, authorities reported rescuing 190 people while at least 30 militants were killed in gunfire exchanges. Pakistani forces, supported by helicopters, continued their operation in the rugged terrain.
This marks the first time BLA separatists have hijacked a train, though they have previously targeted railway infrastructure. The group, which has around 3,000 fighters, frequently attacks security forces and has also targeted Chinese nationals working on major Belt and Road Initiative projects. China strongly condemned the attack, reaffirming its support for Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.
The hijacking occurred when militants detonated explosives on the tracks, forcing the Jaffar Express to stop inside a tunnel. Security personnel aboard the train were attacked, but details on casualties remain unclear. Rescued passengers were transported to their hometowns, while injured individuals received treatment in hospitals in Mach and Quetta.
Balochistan has long been a hotspot for insurgency, with separatists demanding greater autonomy and a larger share of the region’s rich natural resources. The province’s instability has also strained Pakistan-Iran relations, with both countries accusing each other of harboring militants. In January 2024, cross-border airstrikes between Islamabad and Tehran resulted in casualties but were swiftly deescalated.
The BLA warned that hostages’ lives remain at risk unless the government agrees to negotiations. Experts believe this attack’s focus on civilians could erode public support for the group despite garnering media attention.
Source: Swifteradio.com.
