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More than 340 hostages held by militants in a 30-hour siege were freed on Wednesday, following a security operation in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan region.
The hostage situation began when separatist militants bombed a railway track and stormed the Jaffar Express, which had around 450 passengers on board the train.
The rescue operation, launched by Pakistani security forces on Tuesday afternoon, resulted in the release of 346 hostages and the deaths of over 30 militants.
Tragically, 27 off-duty soldiers, who were passengers on the train, were killed during the attack. The operation also claimed the life of one on-duty soldier.
The attack was claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group advocating for an independent Balochistan.
The BLA released a video showing militants bombing the track and ambushing the train. They demanded the release of imprisoned members in exchange for the hostages.
During the assault, the militants separated soldiers from civilians, shooting several of them while sparing families and the elderly.
Survivors described scenes of panic as gunmen checked identity cards and targeted those from outside the province, particularly military personnel.
The attack highlights the growing insurgency in Balochistan, where separatist groups accuse the Pakistani state of exploiting the region’s natural resources.
The BLA has increasingly targeted security forces and civilians from outside Balochistan, leading to a sharp rise in violence.
