Pakistani troops have avoided a head-on attack because BLA rebels who are explosives-borne and taking up seats along with the hostages hijacked the train which has 250 hostages. The militants took the hijacked train off course into a Bolan, Balochistan tunnel on Tuesday. 190 passengers have been rescued while the operation is a complicated one with the fact that the hijacked train is remote and militants wearing explosives sit in the seats of the hostages.
One of the junior interior ministers informed that the operation in terms of security is challenging because of the mountains and the fear of harming the hostages. The militants are said to be wearing suicide jackets and sitting tightly among the passengers. BLA spokesman Jeeyand Baloch has demanded the release of arrested militants in return for the hostages.
Several hostages have been killed, including the driver of the train, with reports indicating that some militants wearing bomb vests were seated beside the passengers. “The militants have placed some suicide bombers beside some hostage passengers,” a security source disclosed.
The BLA has also threatened to kill the hostages unless their demands are fulfilled, with one of the militants calling upon Balochistan residents to come and join the group’s struggle against the government of Pakistan.”Comrades are offering their blood for you, for this motherland,” the militant said in a Telegram message.
Vacant coffins totaled nearly 100 at the Quetta railway station, with more expected from the hijacked Jaffer Express. The recovered passengers are being transported to their home towns, while the injured are being given medical treatment in Mach district. Security officials said the maximum caution is being exercised since there were women, children, and suicide bombers among the passengers. Furthermore, some of the passengers stated that the militants verified identification cards and killed security forces members in the attack.
