Pakistan’s army has rescued 104 passengers taken hostage by militants in Balochistan. At least 16 terrorists were killed during the operation, according to Geo News.
As of the latest reports, Pakistan’s military is still conducting operations in the area.
On Tuesday, militants detonated explosives on a railway track and fired gunshots to stop a train before taking passengers hostage.
The attack took place in the Bolan district of Balochistan, targeting the Zafar Express train, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The train had over 400 passengers across nine compartments.
During the military operation, 104 hostages were rescued, including 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children. Additionally, 17 injured passengers were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The army is still working to free the remaining hostages.
According to security sources, the terrorists split into smaller groups after the military operation began. They were using satellite phones to communicate with their masterminds in Afghanistan. Reports suggest that the attackers were using women and children as human shields, making the rescue operation more challenging due to the region’s difficult terrain.
Before the attack, the militants planted explosives on the railway tracks and fired at the locomotive, injuring the train driver. The train came to a halt just before a tunnel in a remote, mountainous area near the Afghanistan and Iran border, where the attackers seized control.
The Pakistani military continues its efforts to neutralize the remaining militants and ensure the safety of the passengers.