GUWAHATI: The Pakistan Army has successfully concluded a 30-hour-long operation to rescue passengers taken hostage by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) after an attack on the Jaffar Express in Balochistan. According to reports, 21 civilians and four security personnel were killed, while all 33 militants, including suicide bombers, were eliminated.
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The Jaffar Express, carrying 440 passengers, was reportedly en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was derailed using explosives and hijacked near Gudalar and Piru Kunri, about 160 km from Quetta, on Tuesday. The BLA, the most prominent rebel group in Balochistan, claimed responsibility, initially stating that it had taken 214 people hostage, including security personnel, and later claimed to have killed 50 passengers.
A statement from the Pakistan Army revealed that intelligence reports confirmed the attack was planned and coordinated by terrorist leaders based in Afghanistan, who remained in direct contact with the militants throughout the incident. The army urged the Interim Afghan Government to prevent its territory from being used for attacks against Pakistan.
Pakistani Army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif explained that the rescue mission took time due to the militants using passengers as human shields. He emphasised that security forces acted with extreme caution, ensuring no harm came to the remaining hostages.
"The operation was conducted in phases, with snipers taking out the suicide bombers first, followed by a compartment-by-compartment clearance of the train," he said.
A video released by the BLA shows rebels bombing a railway track before storming the train. The grainy footage captures passengers sitting on the ground under guard, while armed rebels keep watch.
Survivors recounted their harrowing escape, with many walking for hours through rough terrain. “I can’t describe the terror we felt. We somehow managed to escape,” said Muhammad Bilal, a passenger who was traveling with his mother.
