Pakistan train standoff: All hostages released after 30 hours

Pakistan Train Hostage Crisis: 346 Freed After 30-Hour Siege, 27 Soldiers Killed

More than 340 train passengers taken hostage by a militant group were rescued by Pakistani security forces following a 30-hour standoff, an army official confirmed to AFP. The attack resulted in the killing of 27 off-duty soldiers by the militants.

The crisis began when a separatist group bombed a railway track in the mountainous southwest Balochistan region and stormed a train carrying around 450 passengers. Pakistani security forces launched a rescue operation on Tuesday afternoon.

"During the operation, 346 hostages were freed, and 33 terrorists were eliminated," an army official told AFP on condition of anonymity, as he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The 27 slain soldiers were traveling as passengers, while one on-duty soldier was killed during the clearance operation. Although the official did not provide a civilian death toll, earlier reports from railway officials and paramedics indicated that the train driver and a police officer were also among the deceased.

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), stated that no passengers were harmed in the final clearance operation. However, at least 21 passengers had been killed before security forces intervened.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) swiftly claimed responsibility for the attack, releasing a video showing an explosion on the railway track followed by armed militants emerging from the mountains.

Attacks by separatist groups in Balochistan—where militants accuse outsiders of exploiting the region’s natural resources—have increased in recent years, frequently targeting security personnel and non-local ethnic groups.

Following the attack, the BLA issued a statement demanding the release of imprisoned members in exchange for hostages.

Passengers who escaped or were released recounted the fear and chaos as gunmen seized control of the train, checked identity cards, executed soldiers, and spared some families.

"They asked us to step out one by one, separating women and elders before letting them go," said Muhammad Naveed, a survivor. "When around 185 people stepped outside, they selected some and executed them."

Babar Masih, a 38-year-old Christian laborer, described how he and his family trekked for hours through rugged terrain to reach a train that transported them to a makeshift hospital.

"Our women pleaded, and they let us go," he said. "They warned us not to look back. As we ran, I saw many others escaping alongside us."

Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway official in Quetta, confirmed that all 450 passengers had been taken hostage.

An AFP photographer in Quetta observed approximately 150 empty coffins being transported by train to the attack site.

"A significant number of paramilitary personnel and their families were aboard the Jaffar Express, heading home for vacation," said a senior security official. He clarified that the coffins were primarily for military personnel, with some allocated for civilians.

"Sending 150 coffins does not necessarily mean 150 people were killed," he added.

Several passengers recounted how militants demanded identification to determine who was from outside the province, mirroring previous attacks by the BLA.

"They checked ID and service cards, executed two soldiers in front of me, and took four others away," said an unidentified passenger. "Punjabis were specifically targeted and taken by the militants."

Balochistan, a region where China has invested heavily in energy and infrastructure projects—including a major port and airport—has seen increasing violence. The BLA argues that the province’s resources are being exploited by the state and has intensified attacks on security forces, non-local Pakistanis, and foreign-backed infrastructure projects.

Last year, the group launched coordinated assaults, taking control of a major highway and executing travelers from other ethnic communities. In February, the BLA claimed responsibility for an attack that killed 17 paramilitary soldiers, while a female suicide bomber killed a soldier earlier this month.

"Balochistan’s valuable resources belong to the Baloch people," the BLA stated, accusing Pakistani military generals and Punjab’s elite of plundering them.

Baloch residents frequently protest against what they claim is a government crackdown on innocent civilians under the guise of counterterrorism efforts.

Security forces have been battling an ongoing insurgency in Balochistan for decades. However, violence surged in 2024, making it the deadliest year for Pakistan in a decade, according to the independent Center for Research and Security Studies.

The rise in militant activity has been particularly pronounced along the Afghanistan border since the Taliban regained control in 2021. Islamabad has accused Kabul of providing safe havens for militants planning cross-border attacks, a charge the Afghan government denies.