Pakistani security forces successfully freed 155 hostages and killed 27 assailants in a high-risk operation following a deadly attack on a passenger train in Balochistan, security sources said local media on Wednesday.
The Jaffar Express train was attacked on its way from Quetta to Peshawar on Tuesday. It was carrying approximately 450 passengers.
Armed militants from the proscribed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) detonated explosives on the tracks, causing the train to stop before opening fire.
The train was stranded within a tunnel near Sibbi for several hours, trapping people in perilous conditions.
Authorities reported that the train’s driver, who sustained injuries in the initial attack, later succumbed to his wounds.
Major General Ahmed Sharif, a senior security official, described the rescue mission as “one of the most challenging operations in recent years,” emphasising the difficulties faced by forces navigating treacherous terrain while ensuring minimal harm to hostages.
The BLA, which claimed responsibility for the attack, stated that it had taken more than 200 hostages, including security personnel.
The group demanded the release of political prisoners and missing persons, threatening to execute captives if their demands were not met within 48 hours.
The BLA, a separatist group opposed to Pakistani control over Balochistan’s natural resources and Chinese investments in the region, has significantly intensified its attacks in recent months.
A recent report by the Global Terrorism Index 2025 highlighted a 45% rise in terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan last year, with the BLA responsible for a substantial portion of the violence.
BLA militants have launched multiple deadly operations this year.
In March, a female suicide bomber targeted a military convoy in Kalat, killing a security officer and injuring four others.
In February, insurgents ambushed a paramilitary bus in the same district, killing 18 personnel.
Days later, a roadside explosion killed 11 coal miners, while another attack struck a military convoy guarding a Chinese-operated mining project.
Islamabad has accused militant groups based in Afghanistan of orchestrating many recent attacks, including the latest assault.
The Pakistani government has repeatedly urged the Afghan Taliban to take action against anti-Pakistan fighters operating from its territory.
However, Kabul has denied harbouring such groups, deepening tensions between the two neighbouring countries.
