Pakistani security forces have completed a military operation to free hostages taken by armed separatists on Tuesday after they stormed the Jaffar Express in Balochistan’s Bolan district.
Officials announced Wednesday evening that 190 passengers had been rescued, while authorities were working to determine the number of fatalities.
At least 30 attackers were killed in the operation, which was led by Pakistan Army’s elite commandos and involved the Pakistan Air Force’s drone technology.
The attack occurred as the train traveled from Quetta to Peshawar, carrying around 450 passengers. Fighters from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a banned separatist group, ambushed the train using explosives to disable the tracks before opening fire.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes, with passengers taken hostage and used as human shields. Some captives, including women, children, and local Baloch residents, were released, but an unknown number were taken into the surrounding mountains.
Pakistan’s military launched “Operation Green Bolan,” deploying special forces, helicopters, and airstrikes to combat the attackers. Authorities intercepted communications between the assailants and their contacts in Afghanistan, which officials cited as evidence of foreign involvement.
The Balochistan Assembly condemned the attack in a Wednesday resolution, highlighting the growing use of female suicide bombers in terrorist operations. Meena Majeed, the chief minister’s advisor on sports, warned that terrorist groups were exploiting Baloch women and students for their agendas and urged immediate government action.
'The first time' this has happened in Pakistan
Dost Mohammad Barech, a lecturer and researcher at the University of Balochistan, told The Media Line, “This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that an entire train has been taken hostage in this manner. Seizing a train at such a strategic location highlights the intelligence of the militants.”
He noted that the Bolan region has 17 railway tunnels, making it strategically advantageous for the BLA to attack there. The fighters stopped the train at Tunnel No. 8, which lacked cell phone service, allowing them to prolong the hostage situation while shielding themselves from security forces.
The US Embassy in Pakistan condemned the attack, stating: “We strongly condemn the attack on the Jaffar Express train and the hostage-taking of passengers in Balochistan, claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army, a US-Designated Global Terrorist group.”
The US pledged continued support for Pakistan’s security efforts, while the State Department updated its travel advisory on March 9, warning Americans to reconsider visiting Pakistan due to increased risks of terrorism and armed conflict, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
While the military successfully freed hostages and neutralized the attackers, officials remain concerned about the broader implications of the attack, which underscores the ongoing Baloch insurgency and security threats in the region.