SIBI: A passenger train from Quetta to Peshawar was hijacked by armed militants in Balochistan’s Sibi district on Tuesday, taking more than 400 passengers’ hostage.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack and warned of “serious consequences” if security forces attempted a rescue operation.
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The Jafar Express, which had left Quetta earlier in the day, was forcibly stopped near a tunnel in the remote mountainous region of Peru Kanri. According to railway officials, the attackers bombed the track before storming the nine-coach train, injuring the driver and several passengers in the ensuing gunfire.
Railway officials confirmed that women and children were among the more than 450 passengers on board. “The gunmen have taken control of the train and are holding all the passenger’s hostage,” said Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway official in Quetta.
Security sources said the attackers had strengthened their position inside the train, complicating rescue efforts. The hijacking took place at around 1:00 pm local time, before the train was due to stop at Sibi station. Authorities lost contact with the train crew shortly after the attack began.
In a statement to the media, the BLA claimed responsibility for the hijacking, alleging that six security personnel on board were killed. The group, which has been waging an insurgency for an independent Balochistan for decades, warned that any rescue attempt would be met with a deadly response.
“The Balochistan Liberation Army warns that if an operation is launched against us, there will be dire consequences,” the group said, adding that its fighters “successfully captured the train” as part of their ongoing struggle against Pakistani authorities.
In response to the crisis, Pakistani security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a clearance operation. However, the difficult mountainous terrain provides the attackers with a strategic advantage. A state of emergency has been declared in hospitals in Sibi, and a relief train has been dispatched to the scene to provide assistance.
Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind acknowledged the gravity of the situation, saying, “Rescue efforts are ongoing, but the safety of the hostages is our top priority. We are taking every necessary step to resolve the crisis.”
