Pakistani Army Concludes Standoff with Train Hostage-Takers in Balochistan
Major military operation ends with the deaths of all 33 kidnappers and the rescue of 21 hostages.
On Wednesday, the Pakistani Army reported the successful conclusion of a standoff involving separatist militants who had seized a passenger train in Balochistan, a province in southwestern Pakistan, earlier this week.
The incident began when armed separatists attacked the Jaffar Express train, which was en route from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The attackers derailed a section of the railway and fired rockets at the train, taking approximately 440 individuals hostage.
According to military officials, the operation to retake control of the train, which lasted for a full day, resulted in the deaths of all 33 kidnappers.
Major Ahmed Sharif Choudhry, a spokesperson for the army, confirmed that 21 hostages were rescued during the operation, which he described as executed with 'utmost care'.
He emphasized that no civilians were killed in the military action.
Additionally, three soldiers who were guarding the railway line were reported killed in the initial attack, which took place on Tuesday.
The Balochistan Liberation Army, the group claiming responsibility for the attack, had previously threatened to execute hostages if their demands for the release of political prisoners and missing persons were not met within 48 hours.
They alleged that the military had abducted these individuals.
In a statement made to local council members, Balochistan's Chief Minister, Sarfaraz Bugti, confirmed the deaths of all militants involved in the crisis.
However, later in the evening, before the military's announcement, the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed through their channels that they had killed 50 passengers, a claim which raises concerns regarding the situation and the nature of the hostage crisis.
Prior to the operation, an official had estimated that between 70 to 80 attackers were involved in the seizing of the train.
The security measures surrounding the incident are part of ongoing tensions in the region, where separatist movements advocate for greater autonomy or independence from Pakistan.
The incident began when armed separatists attacked the Jaffar Express train, which was en route from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The attackers derailed a section of the railway and fired rockets at the train, taking approximately 440 individuals hostage.
According to military officials, the operation to retake control of the train, which lasted for a full day, resulted in the deaths of all 33 kidnappers.
Major Ahmed Sharif Choudhry, a spokesperson for the army, confirmed that 21 hostages were rescued during the operation, which he described as executed with 'utmost care'.
He emphasized that no civilians were killed in the military action.
Additionally, three soldiers who were guarding the railway line were reported killed in the initial attack, which took place on Tuesday.
The Balochistan Liberation Army, the group claiming responsibility for the attack, had previously threatened to execute hostages if their demands for the release of political prisoners and missing persons were not met within 48 hours.
They alleged that the military had abducted these individuals.
In a statement made to local council members, Balochistan's Chief Minister, Sarfaraz Bugti, confirmed the deaths of all militants involved in the crisis.
However, later in the evening, before the military's announcement, the Balochistan Liberation Army claimed through their channels that they had killed 50 passengers, a claim which raises concerns regarding the situation and the nature of the hostage crisis.
Prior to the operation, an official had estimated that between 70 to 80 attackers were involved in the seizing of the train.
The security measures surrounding the incident are part of ongoing tensions in the region, where separatist movements advocate for greater autonomy or independence from Pakistan.
