Pakistani Security Forces Storm Hijacked Train, Kill 33 Militants
Background
Separatist Baloch militants on Tuesday blew up the railway track and hurled rockets at the Jaffar Express, a train carrying 440 people from Quetta to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The train was hijacked by 70-80 attackers, who were armed with suicide vests and were looking for soldiers and security personnel.
The Standoff
The military sent in hundreds of troops and deployed the airforce and special forces to tackle the militants. The operation was carried out with great care, with no civilians killed in the final stage. In the initial stage, 21 hostages and four security troops were killed. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed the attack, said it had killed 50 passengers on Wednesday evening.
The Rescue
The BLA had threatened to start executing hostages unless authorities met its 48-hour deadline for the release of Baloch political prisoners, activists, and missing people it says had been abducted by the military. The military freed a large number of people, including women and children, in the final operation, with no civilians killed.
Challenges
The rescue operation was complicated by the fact that the militants were wearing suicide vests. Special forces had to take out the suicide bombers before troops could move in to kill the rest of the militants. It was not immediately clear how or to where the passengers would be evacuated, but 190 of those on board had already been rescued, with more than 50 taken to Quetta to be reunited with their loved ones.
Reactions
Muhammad Ashraf, 75, who was traveling on the train, said he heard a loud explosion in the mountainous area, which shook all the carriages. "We lay on the floor once heavy firing started. Shortly after, armed men entered the train and checked our identities," he said.
A woman, who said her son was among the passengers still waiting to be freed, confronted provincial minister Mir Zahoor Buledi. "Why didn’t you stop the trains if they were not safe?" she said. Buledi told reporters that the government was working to beef up security in the region.
Conclusion
The Pakistani security forces’ successful operation to rescue the hostages and kill the militants is a testament to their bravery and professionalism. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the government in Balochistan, where separatist militants have been fighting for a larger share in the regional wealth of mines and minerals denied by the central government. The government has vowed to step up security in the region to prevent such incidents in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many militants were killed in the operation?
A: 33
Q: How many hostages were killed in the operation?
A: 21
Q: How many civilians were killed in the operation?
A: None
Q: How many people were rescued in the operation?
A: 190
Q: How many people were taken to Quetta to be reunited with their loved ones?
A: More than 50