More than 100 passengers rescued from Pakistan train attack

According to a BBC report on Tuesday, citing military sources, militants in Pakistan's Balochistan province attacked a train carrying over 400 passengers and took some passengers hostage. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) opened fire on the Jaffar Express, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. This brazen attack underscores the ongoing security challenges in the region.

The separatist group claimed they blew up the tracks before storming the train in a remote area of Sibi and asserted that the train was under their control. According to local media reports on Wednesday morning, at least 16 militants were killed and 104 passengers were rescued. Among those rescued were 17 injured passengers, who have been taken to hospitals for treatment. The successful rescue operation is a testament to the bravery of the security forces.

According to local reports, the militants threatened to kill the hostages if authorities did not release Baloch political prisoners within 48 hours. Rescue operations are still underway. A Balochistan provincial government spokesperson told local newspaper Dawn on Tuesday that there was "heavy exchange of fire" on the train. AFP reported that a senior police officer said the train was "still stuck before a tunnel surrounded by mountains," hindering rescue efforts.

A senior military officer confirmed to the BBC that over 100 army personnel were on the train traveling from Quetta. The Balochistan Liberation Army has been designated as a terrorist organization by Pakistani authorities and several Western countries, including the UK and the US. The group has waged a decades-long insurgency for independence and has carried out numerous deadly attacks, often targeting police stations, railway lines, and highways. Their actions continue to destabilize the region.

On Tuesday, the group warned of "serious consequences" if there were attempts to rescue the hostages they were holding. One released hostage, Muhammad Bilal, told AFP: "I can't describe in words how we escaped. It was terrible." Another passenger, Aradita, said he was allowed to leave due to his heart condition. The 49-year-old recalled that people "started hiding under their seats in panic" when the attackers stormed the train. The traumatic experience has left a lasting impact on the survivors.

A local railway official in Quetta told the BBC earlier that 80 passengers – 11 children, 26 women, and 43 men – had managed to get off the train and walk to the nearest train station, Panir. The official said the group consisted of local residents from Balochistan. One man, whose brother-in-law remained held on the train, described it as an agonizing wait. He said he had tried to drive to the area, but many roads were blocked. The plight of those still held captive remains a major concern.

Meanwhile, relatives of the passengers anxiously tried to obtain information about their loved ones from counters at the Quetta railway station. The son of one passenger, Muhammad Ashraf, who left Quetta for Lahore on Tuesday morning, told BBC Urdu that he had been unable to contact his father. Another relative said he was "very worried" about his cousin and her young children, who were traveling from Quetta to Multan to pick up a family member. "No one is telling me what has happened or if they are safe," Imran Khan told Reuters. The lack of communication has amplified the anxiety and uncertainty surrounding the situation.

Officials said they had not yet made contact with anyone on the train. Officials told the BBC that there was no internet or mobile network coverage in the area. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province and the most abundant in natural resources, but it is the least developed. The lack of infrastructure further complicates rescue and communication efforts in the region.