Pakistan’s government announced on Wednesday (March 12) that security forces took a safe operation against armed militants who hijacked a train to rescue more hostages. At least 27 militants were killed in the operation.
On Tuesday (March 11), in Balochistan, Pakistan, a train was hijacked by armed militants as it entered a tunnel in the Bolan area. The train was carrying around 450 people, with over 150 already rescued, while approximately 300 people remained held hostage by the militants.
Government spokesperson Shahid Rind stated that this was a terrorist attack, and authorities dispatched helicopters for rescue operations. Due to the armed militants carrying suicide bombers sitting among the hostages, the rescue operation by security forces was conducted with extreme caution.
According to anonymous security personnel, at the time of the incident, a train was traveling from the provincial capital of Quetta to Peshawar.
As a portion of the train entered a tunnel, the militants blew up the tracks, causing the train’s engine to shut down, leaving the nine carriages stranded.
The train driver was critically injured by gunshots, and the guards on board were also attacked. However, they did not disclose the number of guards on the train or their casualties.
The rescued passengers are being returned to their hometowns, while the injured are being taken to hospitals for treatment.
Following the incident, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.
The organization has a history of targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians, including Chinese citizens working on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
BLA threatened that the lives of the hostages will be at risk if the government does not engage in negotiations.
In a statement on Tuesday night, BLA spokesperson Jeeyand Baloch declared that they were prepared to release the hostages if the government agreed to release their imprisoned radical members. Similar threats had been made before but were rejected by Pakistani authorities.
Security personnel are usually deployed on trains in Balochistan as military personnel often travel by train from Quetta to other areas. Separatist militants have previously attacked trains in the region but had never hijacked one.
Balochistan shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan. Over the years, separatist groups, the Taliban, and other Islamic organizations have been active in the area, vying for greater autonomy and control over natural resources.
Last November, a suicide bombing at a train station in Quetta by BLA resulted in 26 deaths. Pakistani authorities and analysts estimate the organization to have around 3,000 members.
According to local media reports on Wednesday, Pakistan Railways has suspended operations of all trains from Punjab and Sindh provinces to Balochistan.
Balochistan, rich in oil and minerals, is Pakistan’s largest province with the lowest population. The province is home to the Baloch ethnic minority, who have expressed facing discrimination and exploitation by the central government of Pakistan.
(Reference to the report by the Associated Press)