March 12 — Pakistani security forces have killed at least 27 militants and rescued 155 passengers after Baloch insurgents hijacked the Jaffar Express in Balochistan’s Bolan area, officials said on Wednesday. The operation, which began on Tuesday afternoon, is ongoing as rebels use hostages as human shields.
According to security sources, 37 passengers sustained injuries during the rescue and were shifted for medical treatment. The Jaffar Express, carrying around 500 passengers in nine coaches, was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar when armed men intercepted it inside a tunnel near the mountainous Gudalar and Piru Kunri region.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had seized control of the train by derailing it. The group also claimed to have killed six security personnel. In a warning issued Tuesday, the BLA threatened to execute all hostages if military operations continued.
Officials, however, contested the rebels’ claims of releasing women and children. “The hostages were freed by security forces,” said Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry. Security forces have surrounded the tunnel, and efforts are underway to rescue the remaining passengers.
Rana Muhammad Dilawar, a district police officer in the area, confirmed that some women and children were still held hostage by militants, including suicide bombers. “The operation is being conducted with extreme caution due to their presence,” he added.
The Pakistan military said militants have broken into small groups attempting to flee under the cover of darkness, but security forces have blocked all escape routes. Intense gunfire and explosions were reported near the tunnel where the hijacking occurred.
Pakistan Railways has set up emergency desks at Quetta and Peshawar railway stations as worried relatives seek information. Tariq Mahmood, a senior railway official, urged people to disregard rumors circulating on social media.
Balochistan, a restive province bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has witnessed a surge in insurgent attacks, particularly targeting security personnel and infrastructure linked to the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In November 2024, a suicide blast at Quetta Railway Station killed 26 people and injured 62.
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