In Quetta, Pakistani security forces successfully ended a train hijacking on Wednesday (March 12), killing all 33 separatist militants involved in the attack. The military confirmed that the day-long standoff, which involved hundreds of hostages, resulted in the deaths of 21 captives and four security personnel.

The crisis began on Tuesday when Baloch separatists bombed railway tracks and launched rockets at the Jaffar Express, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with 440 passengers on board. The attackers, members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), took control of the train and initially claimed to be holding 214 hostages, most of whom were security personnel.

The BLA demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners and missing persons, threatening to start executing hostages if their 48-hour deadline was not met. Before the military’s final assault, the group claimed to have killed 50 passengers. According to military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the final operation was carried out carefully, ensuring that no civilians were harmed. The army used special forces and air support to neutralize the attackers, with troops moving carriage by carriage to eliminate the militants.

The hijackers reportedly wore suicide vests, making the rescue operation even more complex. Authorities had earlier managed to rescue 190 passengers, with many taken to Quetta to reunite with their families. Survivors described the horror of the attack, with one passenger, 75-year-old Muhammad Ashraf, recalling how an explosion rocked the train before gunmen stormed in to check identities. Officials reported that the militants were specifically targeting soldiers and security personnel. As families of the victims voiced their frustration over security lapses, provincial minister Mir Zahoor Buledi assured the public that measures were being taken to strengthen safety in the region.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters