Pakistan Train Hijack: Army Confirms End of Operation Against Baloch Militants After Daylong Standoff

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The Pakistani military confirmed the end of its operation against Baloch militants who hijacked a train in Balochistan on Tuesday, resulting in a daylong standoff. According to Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif, spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, the operation concluded successfully on Wednesday evening, with all 33 militants killed and all hostages safely rescued.

The militants, members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), hijacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train with 440 people aboard, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. The train was derailed by explosives near the mountainous areas of Gudalar and Piru Kunri, roughly 160 kilometers from Quetta. The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack, stating they had killed six soldiers during the hijacking.

Tragically, the militants killed 21 passengers during the assault, while four paramilitary Frontier Corps soldiers also lost their lives in the incident.

The Pakistani army's swift intervention ended the standoff, bringing relief to the passengers who had endured a harrowing ordeal. This incident marks another significant attack by the BLA, a group known for carrying out various terrorist acts in the region.

The attack has further heightened concerns about the security situation in Balochistan, where the BLA and other separatist groups continue to challenge government forces. The military's response was swift, ensuring the safe return of the train passengers, but the incident has once again drawn attention to the ongoing instability in the region.