QUETTA, Pakistan — Pakistani forces have rescued 155 passengers from a hijacked train in Balochistan, but dozens remain in captivity after separatist militants derailed the train and opened fire, authorities said Wednesday.
The attack, which took place on Tuesday, was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an armed separatist group. The militants have issued a 48-hour ultimatum, threatening to execute hostages unless the Pakistani government releases Baloch political prisoners, activists, and individuals the group claims were forcibly disappeared by the military.
Under tight security, the rescued hostages arrived in Quetta early Wednesday. Families gathered anxiously at Quetta Railway Station, some relieved to reunite with their loved ones, while others desperately sought information about those still missing.
The BLA claimed to have taken 214 hostages, including active-duty security personnel, though the figure has not been independently verified. A security source told Reuters that there were 425 passengers on board the train when it was attacked.
Security forces have been engaged in heavy combat with the militants. Officials reported that 27 militants had been killed so far in the ongoing operation. The number of assailants involved in the attack remains unclear.
The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was reportedly trapped in a tunnel when gunmen opened fire, killing the train’s driver, according to Reuters. The militants claim to have seized control of the train and are threatening to destroy it entirely if military operations continue.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, stating that security forces were actively working to repel the militants. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi denounced the attackers as “beasts” for targeting civilians.
In response, the Balochistan government has implemented emergency measures to manage the crisis, deploying security forces to contain the situation and rescue the remaining hostages.
Balochistan has long been a flashpoint for insurgency, with separatist groups like the BLA accusing the government of exploiting the province’s vast natural resources without fair distribution to the local population. The ongoing attack underscores the region’s deep-rooted instability and the continued threat posed by militant groups.
