Balochistan train hijack: Pakistan's security forces rescue 104 hostages after attack

Quetta: Pakistan's security forces successfully rescued 104 hostages held by "terrorists" after an attack on the Jaffar Express train at Bolan Pass in Balochistan, ARY News reported, citing security sources.

Following the attack, hundreds of passengers were taken hostage by the "terrorists". Among the 104 hostages rescued were 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children. Security sources reported that 16 "terrorists" were killed and many others were injured during the operation.

Security officials stated that the "terrorists" suffered significant losses in the operation and scattered into smaller groups. Seventeen injured passengers were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Additional security squads were deployed to assist with the operation in the area, according to the ARY News report.

The Jaffar Express, which was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, was ambushed by a group of "terrorists" in Balochistan’s Bolan Pass. The train's driver sustained serious injuries, and innocent civilians were targeted in the attack. The "terrorists" halted the train inside a tunnel and took the passengers, including women and children, hostage.

Balochistan is known for its rugged and inaccessible terrain, but security forces launched a clearance operation to rescue the hostages. The "terrorists" were surrounded by forces, and an exchange of gunfire ensued. According to security sources, the "terrorists" are reportedly in contact with their facilitators in Afghanistan and have been using women and children as human shields.

The operation is being conducted with extreme caution due to the challenging landscape and the need to protect the hostages' lives. Emergency measures were put in place at hospitals in Sibbi following the incident.

On Tuesday, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) issued a statement claiming responsibility for taking the passengers of the Jaffar Express train hostage. The BLA threatened to execute the captives if Pakistani forces proceeded with an operation.

In its statement, the BLA claimed to have "completely repelled the Pakistani military's ground assault following the seizure of the Jaffar Express." After intense clashes, Pakistani ground troops were reportedly forced to retreat, but airstrikes from helicopters and drones continued.

"The BLA issues a final warning: if the aerial bombardment is not halted immediately, all 100+ hostages will be executed within the next hour. Majeed Brigade, STOS, Fateh Squad, and ZIRAB Unit fighters are actively engaged in countermeasures, and any further military incursion will have catastrophic consequences," the statement read.

"Over 100 enemy personnel remain in BLA custody. The occupying forces still have a chance to cease airstrikes and save their men, or else the Pakistani military will bear full responsibility for the execution of all hostages," said Jeeyand Baloch, a spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army.

Attacks on trains, including the Jaffar Express, have been a recurring issue in Balochistan. In November, a bombing at Quetta railway station killed at least 26 people and injured over 40 others, including women and children.