Pakistan army rescues 300 Hostages from train hijack in Balochistan

KATHMANDU: At least 300 hostages have been rescued by Pakistani security forces after armed militants attacked a train in Balochistan province, officials confirmed.

The military stated that 33 insurgents were killed during the operation, which has now concluded.

According to the Pakistani Army, before the rescue mission began, 21 civilians and four soldiers were killed in the attack. However, local media reports suggest that at least 30 security personnel lost their lives.

During the operation, 37 injured passengers were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The attacked train, Jaffer Express, was carrying 440 passengers when militants struck on Tuesday while traveling from Quetta to Peshawar.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it had initially taken 214 passengers hostage. The Pakistani military has accused Afghanistan-based operatives of planning the assault.

Some passengers managed to escape the train before the full-scale attack, with 80 individuals, including 11 children and 26 women, reaching a nearby station safely.

The BLA warned that any rescue attempt would lead to severe consequences and demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners within 48 hours, threatening to kill hostages if their demands were not met.

The attack began with a bomb blast on a railway track in the remote Sibi district, followed by militants storming the train.

The situation remains tense, as security forces continue efforts to secure all remaining passengers.