Pakistan train attack: Over 150 hostages rescued after fierce gunfight, 27 BLA militants killed

In a dramatic overnight rescue operation, Pakistani security forces freed 155 hostages from a hijacked train after a fierce gun battle with rebels of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), leaving 27 militants dead.

Among the rescued passengers were dozens of women and children, who were taken to Mach, where emergency medical facilities have been set up.

“Security forces have safely rescued 155 passengers. At least 27 terrorists have been eliminated,” a security official was quoted as saying, adding the operation was still “ongoing”.

The Jaffar Express, carrying around 450 passengers, was intercepted in a tunnel from Quetta to Peshawar. The rebels blew up the tracks, forcing the train to stop, and killed the locomotive driver before taking hostages.

The BLA, the most powerful separatist group in the region, later claimed responsibility, demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners and missing persons within 48 hours. They threatened to destroy the train and execute hostages if their demands were not met.

While security forces engaged in intense combat with the militants, reports suggest some rebels managed to escape into the mountains with a few hostages. The military has since launched a pursuit operation in the rugged terrain, encircling the area to prevent further insurgent movement.

Despite the BLA denying any casualties and claiming to have killed 30 Pakistani soldiers, official sources have not confirmed these figures. Meanwhile, emergency desks have been set up at Quetta and Peshawar railway stations to assist anxious relatives of the passengers.

Condemning the attack, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to eliminate terrorism.

"We will continue the fight against this menace until it is completely eradicated. Every conspiracy to spread unrest and chaos in Pakistan will be thwarted," read a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.

Balochistan, long plagued by insurgency and unrest, has witnessed a surge in deadly violence in recent months. Last November, a suicide bombing at the Quetta railway station claimed 26 lives and left 62 others injured.

The latest hijacking underscores the persistent instability in the resource-rich but troubled province.

With military operations ongoing, the fate of any remaining hostages and the final toll of this high-stakes standoff remain uncertain.