Pakistani security forces say 190 rescued as train siege continues into second day

Pakistani security forces have freed at least 190 passengers from a train seized by militants, security sources said on Wednesday, as the military operation to free the rest of the hostages continues more than 24 hours after the attack in the country's southwest.

The Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with about 450 passengers, came under attack Tuesday when gunmen opened fire, injuring at least three people, including the train’s driver, according to eyewitnesses.

The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the assault, which triggered a swift response from the Pakistan Army. Security officials said 30 attackers have been killed so far during the operation.

Authorities said the hijackers remained in contact with collaborators in Afghanistan and had positioned suicide bombers near hostages, raising fears they would be used as human shields.

A Reuters journalist reported seeing nearly 100 empty coffins at Quetta railway station where more people who were aboard the Jaffer Express were expected to arrive.

450 passengers onboard

“Over 450 passengers onboard are being held hostage by gunmen,” Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway official in Quetta, told AFP on Tuesday, shortly after the attack.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the assault, calling the assailants “beasts” who deserve “no leniency”. He also wished a swift recovery for the injured.

Security forces surrounded the militants, but the mountainous terrain posed challenges to the operation. Hospitals in Sibi and Dhadar were placed on emergency alert, with ambulances dispatched to the site.

Survivors recall terror

Some hostages who escaped described the ordeal as terrifying.

“I can’t find the words to describe how we managed to escape. It was terrifying,” said Muhammad Bilal, who had been traveling with his mother on the train.

Zahid Masih, another freed hostage, told Nukta: “I heard gunfire, and then a powerful explosion shook the train.”

“I don’t know why they let me go, as most of those released were women and children—perhaps it was because I am Christian,” he speculated.

Families await news

For families of passengers still unaccounted for, the uncertainty is agonizing.

“I dropped my father at the station in the morning. He was traveling to Gujranwala to offer condolences to a relative,” said Abdur Rauf, son of hostage Umar Farooq.

“After the train departed, I returned home, but when news of the attack broke, I tried calling him—his phone was switched off. We have no idea where he is or what condition he might be in. All we can do is hope for the best,” he said.

Pakistan has long battled a separatist insurgency in impoverished Balochistan, where groups like the BLA have carried out attacks targeting security forces and infrastructure.

Violence has surged in the western border regions with Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, exacerbating tensions in the region.

Condemnations pour in

The attack has drawn strong condemnation from international leaders and organizations.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei denounced the assault and hostage-taking, expressing solidarity with the Pakistani government and people.

He reaffirmed Iran’s opposition to all forms of terrorism and said Tehran stands ready to assist Islamabad in combating the threat.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack and voiced concern over the hostages, urging their immediate release.

"Attacks against civilians are unacceptable," his spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement.

German Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Grannas called the attack “unacceptable,” emphasizing that violence for political purposes, especially against innocent civilians, must be rejected.

“At this difficult hour, we stand in solidarity with the people of Pakistan,” he said.

*With input from AFP, Reuters and correspondent Kamran Ali

*This is a developing story