Pakistan remains in the grip of a tense situation as militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have taken hundreds of passengers hostage after hijacking the Jaffar Express in the Balochistan province.
At the time this article goes live on Vibes of India, security forces are engaged in a large-scale operation to rescue the passengers who were traveling from Quetta to Peshawar on Tuesday.
Pakistani security forces have deployed helicopters and additional personnel to assist in the operation.
Reports claim that at least 155 passengers have been rescued and 27 militants killed as of Wednesday morning.
The train, carrying 425 passengers, was ambushed by insurgents after they blew up the railway track and opened fire, forcing it to halt in the mountainous terrain near the Mashkaf tunnel in the Gudalar and Piru Kunri area. Reports added that the BLA has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the group is fighting for a free Balochistan. The BLA claimed to be holding 214 hostages and has said it killed at least 30 security personnel. Pakistani authorities have yet to confirm these figures.
The BLA has threatened to completely destroy the train if their demands are not met. They have also threatened to execute hostages, including military personnel, unless their demand for the release of political prisoners and missing activists is fulfilled within 48 hours.
Rana Dilawar, a senior police official, said the train remained at the scene, with the armed militants continuing to hold the passengers.
The Jaffar Express had 80 military personnel on board, according to a security source. While at least 104 passengers have been rescued, 17 of the injured passengers are receiving medical treatment, with some taken to local hospitals. Pakistan Railways has established an emergency desk at the Peshawar and Quetta railway stations to assist frantic family members seeking information about their loved ones. The Pakistani government has condemned the attack in the strongest terms.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that security forces were effectively responding to the threat. President Asif Ali Zardari called the attack “inhumane and heinous.” Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi labeled the perpetrators as beasts who do not deserve any concessions.
Meanwhile, health authorities in Quetta and Sibi have imposed an emergency at local hospitals, with doctors and medical staff on standby to treat the injured. Health Department spokesperson Waseem Baig confirmed that all necessary medical personnel had been summoned to handle the emergency.
Also Read: BLA Militants Hijack Train In Pakistan, Hostages Held Amid Fierce Clashes
