Pakistan’s security troops are battling fiercely with the militants who had hijacked the Jaffar Express passenger train in Balochistan’s Bolan district. The militants, who belonged to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), had taken almost 500 hostages after blowing up a railway track on Tuesday. The militants have issued death threats of mass killings if military action continues.
Suicide Bombers Deployed Among Hostages
Security officials confirmed that suicide bombers dressed in explosive vests have been positioned by militants close to civilians, and rescue missions are very risky. “The terrorists have positioned suicide bombers right next to innocent hostages,” a security official said. Women and children have been moved to three locations and are being deployed as human shields.
At dusk, the militants broke into small groups in a bid to flee at night. Security forces have, however, cordoned off the tunnel and are closing in on the remaining kidnappers.
BLA Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum
The BLA issued a dire threat, threatening to kill ten more hostages if Pakistan carried on with the military campaign. The group blamed security personnel for wanton brutality, claiming that the drone attacks struck their positions along the hijacked train.
“If the Pakistan military launches an operation, all hostages will be executed,” the militant organization stated in a press release, according to The Balochistan Post. The threat has further heightened tensions, with officials considering their next step to keep the hostages safe.
Heavy Casualties as Operation Intensifies
Security personnel were able to save a minimum of 155 passengers, women and children, while killing 27 militants. But the operation was not without loss, as at least 20 soldiers were killed in intense battles with guns.
Gunfire and blasts shook the Bolan region last night as security personnel up their game to take control of the train. Emergency counters at Peshawar and Quetta railway stations have been established to help anxious relatives inquiring about their kin.
Tense Standoff in Balochistan
The Jaffar Express was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar when it was ambushed inside a tunnel near the mountainous area of Gudalar and Piru Kunri. Balochistan, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has always been a hotbed for insurgency activity. The BLA, outlawed in Pakistan, the UK, and the US, regularly attacks security forces and infrastructure, including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)-related projects.
Why is Balochistan a Conflict Zone?
Balochistan, the largest but poorest province of Pakistan, has been the seat of separatist movements for decades. The militants say the natural resources of the region are being exploited by foreigners with little to benefit the people. The situation has deteriorated since the Taliban took over in Afghanistan, with Pakistan accusing Kabul of sheltering militants—a charge the Taliban rejects.
In 2013, Balochistan saw its most militant violence in almost a decade. The current hostage crisis serves to highlight the enduring instability in the area and Pakistan’s difficulties in securing its borders and infrastructure.
