Desperate scenes unfolded as a militant group attacked the Jaffar Express train, leading to a hostage situation that lasted over 30 hours.
**Terror Hits Train in Pakistan: Eyewitness Account of a Hostage Crisis**
**Terror Hits Train in Pakistan: Eyewitness Account of a Hostage Crisis**
A shocking hijacking in the Bolan Pass reveals the perilous reality faced by train passengers in Pakistan.
On Tuesday, the Jaffar Express train, carrying over 400 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar, encountered a deadly ambush in the Bolan Pass, a secluded area devoid of modern communication facilities. The sound of an explosion marked the beginning of chaos as a group affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) bombed the tracks before launching an attack on the train. Mehboob Hussain, a passenger, recounted the horror: bullets began flying as they struggled to comprehend the impending doom.
The BLA claimed responsibility for this unprecedented hijacking, asserting that 21 civilian hostages and 33 of their militants had lost their lives. They demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners within 48 hours, leveraging the situation to highlight their long-standing insurgency in Balochistan against the perceived oppression and neglect by the Pakistani government.
Eyewitness accounts describe pandemonium. Initial reports misrepresented the location of the incident, but police officers on board explained that the train was attacked in an open area, not a tunnel. The BLA, armed and mobilized in large numbers, quickly overtook the situation, separating hostages based on their ethnicity, while chaos reigned in the carriages.
Among the passengers, some were released unharmed, typically women, children, and those identified as locals. Noor Muhammad, one of the fortunate escapees, recounted being evacuated alongside his wife, escaping towards safety as others were taken away amid violent confrontations.
As night fell, the militants continued their ruthless spree, with hostages being targeted and fatalities increasing. A rescue operation finally commenced during the early morning, when forces from the Frontier Corps engaged the militants. Amid the gunfire, many passengers seized the opportunity to flee, some of them injured but alive.
Authorities remain diligent in securing the remaining passengers, with a military spokesperson confirming that operations are ongoing. The incident underlines the increasing risks faced by trains in regions beset by conflict, calling urgent attention to the plight of those caught in the crossfire of long-standing political tensions.
