Pakistan Train Hijack: Security Forces Kill 16 Militants, Rescue 104 Hostages in Ongoing Operation

Pakistan’s security forces have killed at least 16 militants and rescued 104 passengers after a passenger train was hijacked in Balochistan province on Tuesday.

The Jaffar Express, carrying around 400 passengers in nine bogies, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when armed members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) intercepted it in a tunnel near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri.

Ongoing Gun Battle and Rescue Efforts

As security forces engaged in an intense gunfight with the hijackers, they managed to rescue 104 hostages, including women and children, according to sources cited by PTI.

Reports indicate that the clean-up operation is still underway, with some passengers reportedly taken into the mountains. Security personnel are pursuing the militants in the dark, determined to free the remaining hostages.

Sources say the rescued passengers—58 men, 31 women, and 15 children—were transported to Mach, a town in Balochistan’s Kachhi district, via another train.

“The militants have split into small groups to escape under the cover of darkness, but security forces have surrounded the tunnel, and all remaining passengers will be rescued soon,” a PTI source stated.

Heavy Gunfire Near the Hijacked Train

Earlier, security forces had rescued 80 passengers, including 43 men, 26 women, and 11 children, according to Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind.

Authorities have not released further details, but Rind confirmed that military troops and security personnel reached the rugged area shortly after railway authorities reported that the train had been stopped in the tunnel.

Local media reported intense firing and explosions near the hijacked train. Rana Muhammad Dilawar, the district police officer, stated that four to five government officials were onboard, though the authorities have not confirmed BLA’s claim that security personnel were among the hostages.

Emergency Desk Set Up by Pakistan Railways

In response to the crisis, Pakistan Railways has set up an emergency desk at Peshawar and Quetta railway stations to assist frantic relatives seeking information about their loved ones.

Train services from Quetta to Peshawar had only recently resumed after a one-and-a-half-month suspension. Tariq Mahmood, a senior Peshawar Railway Station official, urged people to ignore rumors spreading on social media.

Not the First Attack on Trains in Balochistan

This attack follows a deadly incident in November last year, when a suicide bomber killed 26 people and injured 62 others at Quetta railway station, leading to the suspension of several train services.

As security forces continue their operation, tensions remain high, with authorities determined to end the standoff and ensure the safe rescue of all passengers.