Pakistan

Pakistan Army Rescues Hostages, Eliminates 33 Militants in Deadly Train Hijacking Operation

 

A 30-hour-long dramatic hostage crisis aboard the Jaffar Express came to an end on Wednesday as Pakistan's military neutralised all 33 militants of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) who had hijacked the train in Balochistan. The audacious rescue mission, however, was costly: 21 civilians and four security forces lost their lives.

The Jaffar Express, which had 440 passengers, was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar when armed separatists derailed the train with explosives and hijacked the train in the mountainous area close to the Mashkaf Tunnel, about 160 kilometres from Quetta. At least 100 of the passengers on board were members of security forces, the officials added.

 

Militants Used Hostages as Human Shields

 

The Army, in a live address, confirmed that the militants were employing passengers as human shields, making rescue difficult. “The final clearance operation was carried out with utmost precision so that the remaining hostages could be kept safe,” Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said.

Security forces methodically cleared the train ‘bogey by bogey,’ first eliminating suicide bombers before engaging other assailants. “Despite the terrorists’ tactics, our forces successfully rescued the remaining passengers,” Lt. Gen Chaudhry said.

 

Terror Plot Linked to Afghanistan

 

Pakistani military intelligence had asserted that the attack had been orchestrated by BLA commanders based in Afghanistan. “The attackers were directly in touch with their handlers from the other side,” the Army's release stated, noting Islamabad expects Kabul to stop its land from being utilised for anti-Pakistan terrorist operations.

 

Unprecedented Attack and BLA's Demands

 

The hostage crisis was the first time a train had been hijacked in Pakistan. The BLA, the most active separatist organisation in Balochistan, took responsibility for the attack and had originally demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners. The militants warned that they would kill hostages if their demands were not fulfilled within 48 hours.

A disturbing video released by the group captured gunmen bombing the train track and bursting into the train. Video footage also showed frantic passengers, some of them women and children, cowering on the ground with militants guarding them.

 

Survivors Recall Harrowing Ordeal

 

Passengers who survived the ordeal narrated the experience as terrible. “I am unable to put into words what we experienced,” said Muhammad Bilal, who was travelling alongside his mother. Survivors described walking for hours in the rough mountainous terrain to gain safety.

 

Pakistan Vows to Crush Militancy

 

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the attack as a ‘cowardly act’ that would not deter Pakistan's commitment to peace. “Dozens of terrorists have been sent to hell, and we will not rest until every militant group is dismantled,” he said.

While the Pakistan army successfully wraps up the operation, the event highlights escalating fears of secessionist terrorism in Balochistan. The authorities are on hand to begin questioning as pressure builds on the government to heighten security and calm the resentment feeding the uprising there.