Pakistan Train Hijack: More Than 150 Hostages Freed, Security Forces Ongoing Operations

Pakistani security forces are involved in a high-risk rescue mission after the Jaffar Express, a passenger train from Quetta to Peshawar, was hijacked by militants of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).

The assault was launched when militants remotely exploded explosives along the tracks, making the train come to a halt within a tunnel. Gunmen subsequently boarded the train, firing and seizing at least 182 passengers as hostages. There are initial reports of several casualties among security officials and civilians.

The BLA, an independence-seeking militant outfit, had claimed the hijacking, saying they were hijacking the plane for the release of Baloch political prisoners. They said they would kill the hostages, whom they accused of being military and police officials. The Pakistani government, however, dismissed that any military personnel were aboard, saying that the attack was terrorism.

Since the attack, security forces have initiated a large-scale operation, fighting fierce battles with the militants. Confirmations have come that more than 150 hostages have been released so far, and attempts are ongoing to ensure the release of the rest of the captives. Authorities also confirmed neutralizing 16 militants in the battle.

The Jaffar Express attack underscores the intensifying insurgency in Balochistan, where nationalist groups have repeatedly attacked infrastructure and security personnel. The province has long been a trouble spot for violence because of calls for more autonomy and control over local resources.

As the rescue effort goes on, officials are kept on their toes, promising to apprehend the culprits. The incident has evoked mass outrage and demands for intensified counterterrorism strategies to guarantee traveler safety on the rail network of Pakistan.

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