Attacked a Train, Taking Over 450 Passengers Hostage in Pakistan

Picture from AFP

Armed militants attacked a train in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province on Tuesday, taking more than 450 passengers hostage. The train's driver was injured in the incident.

The attack occurred around 1 PM local time in the remote Sibi district, where the train had a scheduled stop. The train had departed from Quetta at 9 AM and was en route to Peshawar in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a journey lasting more than 30 hours.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying that gunmen took control of the train by detonating a bomb on the railway tracks, forcing it to stop in the remote Sibi district.

The BLA warned that any attempt to rescue the hostages would have "severe consequences."

Senior railway official Muhammad Kashif, based in Quetta, told AFP, "More than 450 passengers inside the train have been taken hostage by armed militants. Among them are women and children."

Additionally, a senior police official from the neighboring area of Sibi, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "Militants stopped a passenger train called the Zafar Express. The passengers have been taken hostage, and the train's driver has been injured."

The region where the train is stranded is surrounded by mountains, making it easier for militants to establish hideouts and plan attacks. A senior police official confirmed that emergency status has been declared at nearby hospitals.

Balochistan, a poverty-stricken province, has been battling insurgencies for decades. Various rebel groups claim that external forces are exploiting the region's natural resources while the local population sees little benefit. Since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, violence has escalated across Pakistan’s western border regions from north to south.

According to Islamabad-based research organization Center for Research and Security Studies, more than 1,600 people were killed in attacks across Pakistan in 2024, making it the deadliest year in nearly a decade.

Source: AFP