Balochistan Train Siege: 21 Hostages Killed Before Forces Eliminate 33 Militants

Militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) stormed a passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, executing 21 hostages before security forces launched a counter-operation, killing all 33 attackers and rescuing the remaining passengers, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Pakistan’s Information Minister, Attaullah Tarar, attributed the assault to BLA separatists, calling the military response a “successful operation that averted a potential catastrophe.” Balochistan’s Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, assured that all insurgents involved had been neutralized.

Eyewitnesses recalled scenes of terror as gunmen took control of the train, inspecting identity cards, executing soldiers, and selectively sparing families. Survivor Muhammad Naveed described the ordeal, saying, “They ordered us out one by one, separating women and the elderly before choosing people to shoot.”

Babar Masih, a Christian laborer, recounted how he and his family fled through treacherous terrain to reach a rescue point. “Our women pleaded, and they let us go,” he said. Noman Ahmed, another passenger, told that when some wounded refused to exit the train, the militants stormed in and executed them.

The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was partially inside a tunnel when the assailants blew up the tracks, halting nine coaches. Balochistan, rich in oil and minerals, has long been the epicenter of separatist movements demanding greater autonomy and control over resources.

The BLA had warned that hostages’ lives were at risk if the government refused to negotiate. However, security analyst Syed Muhammad Ali suggested that targeting civilians could alienate the BLA’s support base.

Following the operation, rescued passengers were transported to their hometowns, while the injured received treatment in Quetta, located about 62 miles away.