Passengers who escaped the hijacked Jaffar Express shared chilling accounts of the attack by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), highlighting the chaos and fear that ensued. With rescue operations in full swing, security forces and the BLA remain locked in a tense standoff over hostages.
Hostage Crisis on Train in Balochistan: Eyewitness Accounts of Fear and Desperation
Hostage Crisis on Train in Balochistan: Eyewitness Accounts of Fear and Desperation
Eyewitnesses recount harrowing experiences aboard the Jaffar Express train hijacked by militants, as rescue operations continue in Pakistan's Balochistan province.
Members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) launched a significant attack on the Jaffar Express train, which was transporting more than 400 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar. Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of sheer panic and dread as armed militants took control of the train. Ishaq Noor, one of the freed passengers, recounted the terror experienced as shots rang out, saying they held their breath amid the chaos, unsure of their fate. Reports indicate that at least 155 passengers have been released, while military sources allege that 27 militants were killed, although these figures lack independent verification.
Rescue operations conducted by Pakistani security forces have deployed hundreds of troops, along with helicopters and specialized units, to retake control of the train and liberate the remaining hostages. The BLA has issued warnings of "severe consequences" if any further rescue attempts are made. Many of the freed passengers have required medical treatment, and a somber scene was observed at Quetta railway station, where empty wooden coffins were prepared for potential casualties.
Muhammad Ashraf, another passenger who managed to escape, described the overwhelming fear and chaos within the train, stating, "It was a scene of doomsday." He and others trekked nearly four hours to reach safety, carrying vulnerable individuals as they fled. Many were left traumatized, recalling the attackers’ conversations and their leader’s instructions to monitor security personnel carefully.
As the situation unfolds, there are growing concerns about the remaining passengers still held hostage. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has expressed serious concern over the incident, calling for a cooperative approach to address the longstanding issues faced by the region's residents, while the United Nations Secretary-General has condemned the violence and called for the swift release of those still in captivity.
The BLA, engaged in a decades-long struggle for independence, has been linked to numerous violent incidents, targeting emblematic institutions across Pakistan. Their operations have prompted counter-insurgency efforts from state forces, where allegations of human rights violations persist. This latest attack raises questions about ongoing safety and governance in Balochistan, a region marked by poverty and tension.
