Islamabad: In a high-stakes military operation, the Pakistan Army successfully rescued 346 hostages from the Jaffer Express passenger train in Balochistan’s Bolan district. The standoff, which lasted over 24 hours, concluded with security forces eliminating 50 militants belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) Majeed Brigade.
Pakistan Army Eliminates 50 Attackers
According to official sources, the military campaign to free the hostages has been completed. Approximately 350 people were taken captive, and as per confirmed reports, 346 passengers were rescued. The military engaged in intense combat with the armed insurgents, leading to the neutralization of at least 50 attackers.
Train Hijacked with 500 Passengers Onboard
The crisis began when BLA militants hijacked the Jaffer Express, which was traveling from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The insurgents took around 500 passengers hostage, leveraging women and children as human shields to deter military action. A senior security source confirmed, “The operation is now over. All hostages have been freed. A total of 346 people were rescued—168 on Tuesday night and 178 on Wednesday.”
Terrorists Used Passengers as Human Shields
Security officials revealed that the militants deployed ruthless tactics, using civilians as shields to hinder the security forces’ response. “The operation was conducted with extreme precision to minimize casualties and ensure maximum safety,” an official stated. Authorities are currently assessing the number of civilian casualties resulting from the attack. Reports suggest that the mastermind behind the hijacking was in active communication with terrorist networks in Afghanistan.
Attack Strategy: Blowing Up Railway Tracks
The BLA insurgents orchestrated the attack by bombing railway tracks in the Dhabar area of the Bolan Pass, forcing the Jaffer Express to come to a halt. Following the explosion, the militants launched a coordinated assault on the train, taking hundreds of passengers hostage. Security forces, along with railway authorities, confirmed that the attack occurred near tunnel number eight of the Bolan Pass.
The successful rescue operation marks a significant victory for Pakistani security forces in their ongoing battle against insurgent groups operating in Balochistan. However, the attack underscores the persistent security threats in the region and the need for heightened counter-terrorism measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
