Terror on the Tracks: Pakistan train siege leaves dozens dead

Nearly 350 hostages were freed after a harrowing confrontation between the Pakistani military and militants who seized a train in Balochistan, according to security sources. The attack, which began on Tuesday, ended in bloodshed, leaving dozens dead.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group active in the resource-rich region, claimed responsibility for the assault. Security officials reported that 27 hostages and one soldier were killed, while 35 militants died in the military’s rescue operation.

The Jaffer Express, carrying around 450 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar, was ambushed early in its journey as it passed through a tunnel. Armed assailants unleashed heavy gunfire, forcing the military into action. Officials stated that the attackers used women and children as human shields.

Survivors described the terror. Passenger Mohammad Ashraf recounted seeing over 100 armed men on board, while another survivor likened the chaos to the “Day of Judgment.” Arslan Yousaf recalled how the militants stormed the train after an explosion, targeting specific passengers based on their ethnicity and executing soldiers.

Hostages endured two days without food, resorting to drinking water from the train’s washroom. Relief arrived when the military launched a decisive assault, neutralizing the militants and securing the passengers’ safety.

Authorities accused the insurgents of coordinating with handlers in Afghanistan, a claim long denied by the Afghan Taliban.

A Deepening Insurgency

The attack underscores the escalating violence in Balochistan, a region plagued by separatist movements demanding greater political and economic rights. Discontent has grown, especially since the leasing of Gwadar Port to China, a key part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. This has led to increased attacks on Chinese interests, further destabilizing the province.

Security analysts warn that such attacks signal a new level of sophistication in the insurgency, highlighting the failures of Pakistan’s counterterrorism strategy. Calls for a policy shift are growing as militants become more emboldened.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, vowing to eradicate terrorism from the country. However, experts argue that without addressing the underlying grievances of Balochistan’s population, violence in the region will persist.