Priyanka Tiwari
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As the train siege in Balochistan province stretched into its second day, Pakistan's security forces rescued 155 hostages and killed 27 militants on Wednesday. The operation, according to some informants, remains active as work to free the rest of the captured passengers goes on.
The fiasco started on Tuesday evening when a certain group of separatist terrorists bombed a railway track and hijacked a train which had over four hundred and fifty passengers on board, which is at the Sibi area of the district. The attack was claimed by Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), one of the more notorious separatist groups that has been aggressive in the province as of late.
While attempting to rescue the passengers, security forces faced challenges including suicide bombers among the militants. “The number of passengers who have been freed stands at one hundred and fifty five. The number of terrorists neutralized stands at twenty seven,” a security source voice said. As the statement stands, there is no information still available about the number of passengers still being held captive.
Full-Scale Operation Launched
Earlier today, officials also declared plans to perform a 'full-scale operation' with the intention of resolving the hostage situation. It is important to note that there have already been three casualties from this sad display, including the train driver, a police officer and a soldier.
There were limitations on security personnel activities at night because of the need to safeguard civilians. “We are exercising restraint to ensure there are no steps taken that would jeopardize the lives of civilian hostages,” revealed an official. There are indications that the terrorists had placed suicide bombers in the hostage group on purpose.
Confirmed by him are the declarations that over a hundred pupils and adult men, women and even children, hostaged until this past Tuesday night were now free. Survivors recounted their escape as terrifying, with some walking for days through the mountainous terrain for hours to get away from danger. “Words fail me as to how we came out, all I can say is it was extremely terrifying,” said Muhammad Bilal who was traveling with his mother on Jafar Express train.
Targeting Outsiders
Some witnesses said that the attackers went through identity documents to look for people who were not from the Balochistan region. One survivor who walked four hoours to the closest train station recounted, “They came to see and checked IDs and service cards, and in front of me they shot two soldiers and they took the rest four, to I don’t know where.” “The people who were Punjabis were taken by the terrorists."
Separately, security forces worked to make sure that around 80 other freed passengers were transferred safely and under escort to Quetta, as more operations were being directed at the fighters.
Increasing Aggression in Balochistan
Balochistan is both the largest and least developed province of Pakistan, being the focus of an insurgency struggle that exists for decades. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) alleges that the locals are not benefiting from the region’s natural resources and launches violent assaults against fellow Pakistani non-Baloch. Last February, BLA militants shot dead seven Punjabi passengers of a bus, after making them disembark from it.
Even as the siege of the train is yet to be fully captured, the security branch of Pakistan has to deal with a very serious situation regarding the capture of the remaining hostages and kill the terrorists who perpetrated the attack.
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