At least 350 hostages were freed in a daring rescue operation after a group of armed militants hijacked a train in southwestern Pakistan’s Balochistan province, leaving dozens dead and sparking widespread condemnation.
The attack, which began on Tuesday, was carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group seeking greater autonomy for the region. According to officials, around 450 passengers were on board when militants opened fire, killing at least 27 hostages and one soldier.
In a daring rescue operation, Pakistani security forces launched an assault on the train, killing at least 35 militants and freeing hundreds of passengers. One woman described the scene as “chaotic” and likened it to the “Day of Judgement”, while another survivor recalled being separated from family members and having to drink water from the train’s washroom.
The attack has highlighted the deteriorating security situation in Balochistan, a region that has been plagued by insurgency for decades. The province’s population is deeply disenfranchised and impoverished, fueling tensions with the federal government.
Analysts say Tuesday’s attack marked an escalation in the sophistication of attacks by the insurgents, and Pakistan’s approach to tackling the militants “seems to have run its course”. With China’s investments in the region, analysts warn that a major reset is required in Balochistan to address the growing security threat.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/12/asia/pakistan-balochistan-train-hostage-wednesday-intl-hnk/index.html