Pakistan Forces free over 100 hostages in daring rescue from deadly train hijack

On March 12, Pakistani security forces freed the remaining hostages from a train hijacked by separatist militants, who, wearing explosive vests, had taken hundreds hostage and executed at least 100 during the siege.

The Pakistani army released a statement late on March 12, assuring the public that “all innocent hostages have been safely rescued, and their evacuation is now underway,” Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The dramatic operation followed hours of tension, during which militants claimed responsibility for the execution of 50 more hostages, in addition to 10 people killed on March 11. The militants also killed 10 Pakistani soldiers in a firefight and 30 more during a combat clash on the same day.

Security forces reported rescuing a total of 178 hostages on March 12, following the earlier rescue of 168 individuals the previous day.

The hijacking began on March 11 when the Jaffar Express, carrying over 400 passengers, including 214 soldiers and security personnel, was travelling from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar. The train was ambushed as it entered a remote tunnel in Balochistan, with militants blowing up the railway track before opening fire on the train, killing 11 people.

Armed with rockets, grenades, and firearms, the attackers then took several passengers hostage. Law enforcement personnel were separated and moved into the mountains in small groups.

The operation to free the hostages was carried out cautiously due to the presence of militants using explosive-laden vests, which surrounded the captives. A senior security official described the situation, saying, “They are using these hostages as human shields.”

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group engaged in a long-standing insurgency against Pakistan's government, claimed responsibility for the hijacking. The group demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners and activists within 48 hours, warning that they would execute hostages if their demands were not met.

As of now, 30 militants have been reported killed in the operation, though the exact number of remaining hostages is still unclear.

By Aghakazim Guliyev