Wed Mar 12 09:22:44 UTC 2025: ## 190 Rescued from Hijacked Pakistani Train, Hundreds Remain Hostage
**QUETTA, Pakistan** – Pakistani security forces have rescued 190 passengers from a train hijacked by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on Tuesday, but approximately 250 remain captive, officials announced Wednesday. The military launched a major operation to free the hostages, who were aboard a train carrying roughly 450 passengers, including military personnel, when attacked in Balochistan province.
The BLA, a separatist group fighting for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. They blew up the railway track and opened fire on the train near Sibi district. The group threatened to execute hostages unless the Pakistani government released Baloch political prisoners and activists within 48 hours. The government has not yet responded to this demand.
At least 30 BLA fighters have been killed in the ongoing operation, officials said, although the overall casualty count among soldiers, passengers, and rebels remains unclear. The remaining hostages are surrounded by BLA fighters wearing explosive vests, complicating rescue efforts. The BLA has stated it is open to prisoner exchanges.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, calling it an act of terrorism. The incident highlights the ongoing conflict in Balochistan, a resource-rich province where the Baloch minority alleges discrimination and exploitation of its natural resources by the central government. Violence in the region has escalated since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The BLA, designated a terrorist organization by Pakistan and the United States, has increased attacks targeting Pakistani nationals and infrastructure, including previous attacks on trains and buses.
First Piper 