In a bold attack on Tuesday, separatist militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) blew up a railway track and ambushed a passenger train in southwestern Pakistan, taking dozens of hostages and engaging in fierce clashes with security forces. The attack occurred in the remote, mountainous region, where the militants held the train and its passengers at gunpoint. While police have not confirmed the exact number of hostages, the insurgents claim to have taken 214 people captive, threatening to execute them if their demands are not met.
The BLA, which seeks independence for Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they quickly took control of the train after blowing up the tracks. In a statement, they demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners and activists, threatening to execute 10 hostages if their demands were not met within 48 hours. The group also warned that if any military action was taken against them during this period, all prisoners would be neutralized, and the train would be destroyed.
Local authorities reported that the train was trapped in a tunnel, and the driver was killed after sustaining serious injuries. Security forces launched a massive operation, deploying helicopters and special forces to rescue the hostages. The BLA militants split into two groups, with some taking around 35 hostages into the mountains, while others continued to hold the locomotive.
By mid-Tuesday, security forces had successfully rescued 104 hostages, though reports suggested that dozens of people had died in the attack, including 80 military personnel. Pakistani officials confirmed the death of 16 militants during the operation, and firefights continued as security forces worked to free the remaining hostages.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, describing the militants as enemies of Pakistan and emphasizing that security forces were determined to eliminate the threat. The conflict in Balochistan has long been marked by violent separatist movements, with the BLA at the forefront of efforts to gain independence for the resource-rich region, which has also been the target of frequent attacks on government, military, and Chinese interests.
Authorities in Balochistan have imposed emergency measures in response to the ongoing hostage situation, and the operation to rescue the remaining captives is still underway. The BLA’s actions are likely to exacerbate tensions in the already unstable region.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/firing-passenger-train-pakistan-tv-channels-report-2025-03-11/