Pakistan has reported the successful rescue of 155 hostages from a train that was hijacked by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). However, there are still approximately 300 hostages remaining on the train. The military initiated a significant operation against the BLA, who took control of the train, which originally had around 450 passengers on board. The train was attacked while traveling through the remote Balochistan region.

Security forces have exercised caution in their operations as hostages are surrounded by BLA fighters wearing explosive vests. So far, at least 27 of the rebels have been killed, according to officials. However, the exact number of casualties among soldiers, passengers, and rebel fighters is unknown.

The BLA has taken responsibility for the attack and has demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners, activists, and missing individuals in exchange for their hostages. This demand has not yet been addressed by the government. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have immediately condemned the attack.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and least populous province, is a highly contested region. BLA fighters have targeted trains and buses, as well as Chinese-backed infrastructure and citizens in the region. In November, a separatist group carried out a suicide bombing that killed 26 people at a train station in Quetta, while in February, BLA fighters killed seven Punjabi travelers who were ordered off a bus. Both Pakistan and the United States have labeled the BLA as a terrorist organization, estimating it to have around 3,000 fighters.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/12/pakistan-forces-continue-operation-to-free-hundreds-from-hijacked-train?traffic_source=rss