Rescue operation for hostages underway after terrorists attack train in Balochistan: state media – Pakistan

Security forces are conducting a rescue operation for passengers taken hostage after terrorists opened fire on a Peshawar-bound passenger train from Quetta near Balochistan’s Bolan district on Tuesday, state media reported.

State-owned media outlets Radio Pakistan and PTV News earlier reported citing “security sources” that terrorists attacked Jaffar Express in the Dhadar area of Bolan Pass and had taken passengers, including women and children, as hostages while remaining in communication with their foreign “facilitators”. They added that the security forces had surrounded the area and launched a clearance operation that would continue till the aggressors were eliminated.

In a subsequent update, Radio Pakistan reported that security forces had rescued 80 hostages held by the terrorists. “According to security sources, those rescued include 43 men, 26 women and 11 children,” it said, adding that security personnel were working to safely rescue the remaining passengers.

In a further update late in the night, the outlet reported that 13 terrorists were killed while many more were injured by security forces.

“According to security sources, terrorists split into small groups due to security forces’ operation. Injured passengers have been shifted to nearby hospital while additional security squads are taking part in the operation in the area,” the report added.

Elaborating on the development in an interview on Geo News show ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the train was taken hostage around noon in the remote area.

“Some passengers were freed as security forces began reaching the site,” he said, adding that he could not yet disclose the numbers.

He added that the freed passengers were being taken to the nearest station and eventually their intended destinations. “Many people have been taken off the train to the mountainous area and women and children are being used as a shield [by the terrorists],” Chaudhry added.

The state minister said security forces were treading carefully because of the lives involved, saying that the operation was still underway.

“They are cowards. They [pick] soft targets. They attack while hiding,” he said.

The state minister did not respond and moved on when the anchor mentioned that 80 people had reportedly been rescued, the figure cited by security sources.

The proscribed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) group claimed responsibility for the attack.

An earlier statement from Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said there were reports of “intense firing at a Jaffar Express [train], which was heading from Quetta to Peshawar, between Pehro Kunri and Gadalar”.

Controller Railways Muhammad Kashif said the train, comprising nine coaches, has around 500 passengers on board.

“The train was stopped by armed men in Tunnel No 8. Efforts are being made to contact the passengers and staff,” the controller said.

“The trains are stuck just before a tunnel surrounding the mountain,” Rana Muhammad Dilawar, district police officer of Kachhi Bolan, told Dawn.com.

Reuters reported that security forces said an explosion was heard near the tunnel and that they were exchanging fire with the militants in the mountainous area.

The Mashkaf Tunnel is located around 157 kilometres from Quetta and approximately 21km from Sibi.

Although the Quetta-Jacobabad N65 highway and the railway line run mostly side-by-side through the Bolan region, they diverge near the town of Mashkaf.

From here, the railway line takes a more direct path, cutting through the mountains and running along the Bolan River, rejoining the main road near Mach.

The Mashkaf Tunnel is located in a very isolated part of the rugged area, with the nearest station located at Pehro Kunri. The next stop on the line towards Quetta is the stop at Paneer, just short of the Paneer Tunnel.

According to the government’s statement, an emergency has been imposed at the Sibi hospital, while ambulances and security forces were on their way to the site of the incident. However, Rind added, the officials were facing difficulties in reaching the site due to the rocky terrain.

“The scale of the incident and the possibility of terrorist elements are being determined. The Balochistan government has ordered that emergency measures be taken, and all institutions remain active.”

Rind urged the public to remain calm and avoid paying heed to rumours.

Tariq Mahmood, the in-charge of Peshawar Railway Station’s emergency counter set up for the incident, told Dawn.com that the Jaffar Express “reaches Peshawar in 34 hours after passing through different areas of the four provinces. Most people from different areas of Punjab board the train after it takes off from Quetta”.

An emergency has also been declared at the Civil Hospital Quetta, according to Health Department Spokesperson Dr Waseem Baig. “All consultants, doctors, pharmacists, staff nurses and paramedical staff have been summoned to the hospital,” Baig said.

Condemnations

Former president Arif Alvi condemned the “heinous and cowardly terrorist attack”, adding that the people had a united stand on such matters. “This is where exactly, the undivided attention of the armed forces is required,” he said in a post on X.

Rise in Balochistan terror

In October last year, Pakistan Railways had announced the restoration of train services between Quetta and Peshawar after a suspension of more than a month and a half.