At least 16 terrorists were killed, and 104 passengers were rescued by security forces after Baloch militants hijacked a passenger train in a tunnel in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Tuesday, security officials reported.
The Jaffar Express, carrying approximately 400 passengers in nine bogies, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was intercepted by armed militants near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri in the afternoon. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, later claimed responsibility for the attack.
Security forces engaged in a prolonged gun battle with the militants, managing to rescue 104 passengers, including women and children. “In the gun battle, which is still ongoing, 16 militants have been killed and many others injured,” a security source told news agency PTI, adding that the operation will continue until all passengers are safely rescued.
Some of the militants reportedly took a number of passengers into the mountains, prompting security forces to pursue them under the cover of darkness. The rescued passengers—58 men, 31 women, and 15 children—were transported to Mach, a town in the Kachhi district, by another train for their safety.
“The militants have now formed small groups to try to escape in the dark, but the security forces have surrounded the tunnel, and we expect to rescue the remaining passengers soon,” a security official told PTI. Earlier, security forces had already managed to extract 80 passengers, including 43 men, 26 women and 11 children, as confirmed by Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind.
Authorities have not yet disclosed further details, but Rind confirmed that military troops reached the rough terrain quickly after railway authorities reported the train had been stopped in the tunnel. Local media reported intense gunfire and explosions near the tunnel, intensifying concerns over the situation.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum, stating that they will execute the remaining hostages unless the Pakistani government releases Baloch political prisoners, activists and individuals allegedly abducted by the military. The group also warned that any further military intervention would result in the execution of all hostages and the complete destruction of the train.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, vowing that security forces were actively working to repel the militants. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi strongly denounced the attack, labeling the perpetrators as “beasts” for targeting innocent civilians.
In response to the attack, the Balochistan government has implemented emergency measures to contain the crisis. Security forces remain engaged in an exchange of fire with the militants, as rescue operations continue.
(With inputs from agencies)