Passengers share harrowing experiences as security forces battle to rescue remaining hostages in Balochistan.
Passengers who escaped a hijacked train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province have described terrifying scenes of chaos and fear as armed militants stormed the Jaffar Express.
“We held our breath through the gunfire, unsure of what would come next,” said Ishaq Noor, one of over 400 passengers on board the train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when it was attacked on Tuesday. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) seized control, taking hostages and injuring several people, including the train driver.
Military sources claim that 155 passengers have been rescued and 27 militants killed, but independent verification is lacking. Security forces continue operations, deploying troops, helicopters, and special forces to free those still held. However, the BLA has warned of severe consequences if a rescue is attempted.
Reports suggest that some militants may have left the train, taking an unknown number of hostages into the mountainous terrain. Among the passengers were more than 100 security personnel, according to officials.
Muhammad Ashraf, travelling to Lahore to visit family, was among those who managed to escape late on Tuesday. “There was sheer panic. It felt like doomsday,” he recalled. He and a group of passengers walked for nearly four hours to the next railway station, some carrying exhausted travellers on their backs.
Mr Noor, who was travelling with his wife and two children, described the initial explosion as so powerful that his child was thrown from the seat. “We shielded our children with our bodies, ready to take the bullets instead,” he said.
Mushtaq Muhammad, who was in the third carriage, recalled hearing the attackers speaking in Balochi, with one giving instructions to monitor security personnel closely. The militants eventually began releasing some passengers, including women, children, and elderly individuals. Mr Noor was freed after telling them he was from Turbat and had his family with him.
It remains unclear how many passengers are still being held hostage. The military has intensified rescue efforts, with reports from Quetta station showing dozens of empty wooden coffins being prepared for potential casualties.
The BLA, a separatist group seeking independence, has waged a decades-long insurgency and frequently targets police stations, railways, and infrastructure. The Pakistani government, along with the UK and US, has classified it as a terrorist organisation.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan expressed deep concern, urging all stakeholders to work towards a peaceful, political resolution. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned the attack and called for the immediate release of all hostages.
