In a dramatic showdown, Pakistani forces have liberated 190 passengers from a hijacked train in Balochistan, taking out 30 Baloch militants as the battle raged into a second day Wednesday. The Jaffar Express, carrying roughly 400 souls from Quetta to Peshawar, was blasted off its tracks and seized by insurgents Tuesday in a tunnel near Gudalar and Piru Kunri.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) owned the attack, claiming six soldier kills—a figure yet to be confirmed by authorities. Security teams, blending military and frontier corps, are slugging it out in the mountainous terrain 160 km from Quetta. Spokesman Shahid Rind promised relentless action until all are safe, with extra care due to hostages in the mix.
Officials say some militants, rigged with suicide vests, are holding women and children close, complicating the fight. A security insider tallied 30 militant deaths, 190 rescues, and 30 injuries—including two drivers and eight guards lost. Satellite phones keep the attackers connected to their bosses, though their full strength’s a mystery.
The BLA’s train hijack is a first, amplifying its year-long rampage against security and foreign projects. Pakistan Railways launched help desks in Peshawar and Quetta as loved ones clamor for updates. The route, revived last fall after a break, saw a deadly blast in November. Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry refuted BLA’s release claims, while police officer Rana Muhammad Dilawar noted hostages remain amid a cordoned-off zone. Official Tariq Mahmood batted down online rumors as Balochistan’s separatist strife boils on.