Quetta: At least 16 militants were killed, and 104 passengers were rescued after Baloch insurgents hijacked a passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, security officials confirmed on Tuesday. The gunmen intercepted the Jaffar Express, which was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar with around 400 passengers, and took control of the train inside a tunnel near the rugged terrains of Gudalar and Piru Kunri.

The security operation, which remains ongoing, has seen intense clashes between the attackers and security forces. According to media sources, Security forces have escalated operations against terrorists, including suicide bombers who are using hostages as human shields. The attackers, equipped with explosive vests, pose a significant threat, demanding extreme caution. Troops are advancing strategically to prioritise the safety of the hostages.

According to reports, militants have taken some hostages into the mountains, with forces pursuing them under the cover of darkness. “In the gun battle, which is still going on, 16 militants have been killed and many others injured," a security official stated, adding that operations will continue until all hostages are freed.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack. Security forces, including military units, reached the mountainous area soon after railway authorities were alerted to the hijacking. A fierce exchange of gunfire and explosions erupted near the tunnel, Pakistani media reported.

Passengers rescued so far include 58 men, 31 women and 15 children. Authorities have transported them to Mach via another train, while security personnel maintain a cordon around the tunnel. Earlier, officials had managed to evacuate 80 passengers, including 43 men, 26 women and 11 children.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that security teams, including military personnel, responded swiftly to the crisis. Rana Muhammad Dilawar, the district police officer for the area, stated that militants had taken hostages, including women and children, and that government officials were also aboard the train.

Pakistan Railways has set up emergency desks at Quetta and Peshawar stations, where anxious relatives await updates. Tariq Mahmood, a senior official at Peshawar Railway Station, urged the public to disregard unverified information circulating on social media.

The incident comes just months after a suicide bomber killed 26 people and wounded 62 others at Quetta railway station in November, prompting authorities to suspend train services for over a month. Pakistan Railways had only recently resumed operations on the Quetta-Peshawar route.

(With inputs from PTI)