Pakistan Train Hijacking: Security Forces Kill 16 Insurgents, Rescue 104 Passengers in Balochistan

In a dramatic security operation, at least 16 insurgents were killed, and 104 passengers were rescued after Baloch separatists hijacked a passenger train in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province on Tuesday.

The Jaffar Express, carrying approximately 400 passengers across nine carriages, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when armed assailants intercepted it inside a tunnel near the rugged terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility for the attack.

Security forces, engaged in an intense gun battle with the insurgents, successfully evacuated 104 individuals, including women and children. "During the ongoing operation, 16 militants were neutralized, and several others sustained injuries," a security source confirmed. The operation remains active, with authorities working to secure the remaining passengers.

Reports indicate that some militants have taken hostages into the surrounding mountains, prompting an extensive search operation. “The insurgents have fragmented into smaller groups in an attempt to evade capture under the cover of darkness. However, security forces have sealed off the tunnel, and further rescues are expected soon,” the source added.

Rescue Efforts and Security Response

Earlier in the operation, 80 passengers—including 43 men, 26 women, and 11 children—were safely escorted to Mach, a town in Balochistan’s Kachhi district. Authorities have established emergency response teams at Quetta and Peshawar railway stations to assist concerned relatives.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that security personnel, including military forces, arrived at the site promptly after reports of heavy gunfire and explosions emerged from the area. “Rescue teams were dispatched immediately upon receiving intelligence of an armed assault on the Peshawar-bound train,” he stated.

The district police chief, Rana Muhammad Dilawar, noted that the region had been cordoned off. However, reports suggested that militants may still be holding hostages, including women and children, as well as four to five government officials. Meanwhile, Peshawar Railway Station official Tariq Mahmood urged the public to rely on official sources for updates and refrain from spreading unverified information on social media.

A Recurring Threat to Pakistan’s Railway Network

This latest attack underscores ongoing security challenges in Pakistan’s railway sector. In November last year, a suicide bombing at Quetta railway station claimed 26 lives and left 62 others injured, prompting Pakistan Railways to suspend several services. The Quetta-Peshawar route had only recently resumed operations following a six-week suspension.

As security forces continue their efforts to track down the remaining insurgents and secure all hostages, the attack raises serious concerns about railway safety in Balochistan, a province long plagued by separatist violence.