Hostage rescue operation in Pakistan ends: At least 25 civilians lost their lives
The Pakistani military announced that the rescue operation for a passenger train hijacked by armed separatists in the southwestern province of Balochistan has been completed. It was reported that 33 militants were killed and 4 soldiers lost their lives in the operation. At least 25 hostages were also reported dead in the incident.
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A separatist group called the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) stopped and seized the Jaffar Express passenger train in a mountainous region of Balochistan on Tuesday. There were more than 400 passengers on the train, and it was stated that approximately 150 of them were security personnel. After hijacking the train, the militants claimed they were holding 150 hostages and threatened to kill them if a rescue operation was launched. The BLA demanded a prisoner exchange from the Pakistani government.
The Pakistani military announced that it had rescued the hostages in an operation launched early Wednesday. It was stated that 33 militants were killed and 4 soldiers lost their lives during the operation. The BLA has not yet responded to these claims by the military.
According to a report by The Washington Post (WSJ), one of the released passengers, Mohammad Ashraf, said that the militants separated him, other elderly people, women, and children from the other passengers, and that some were released. Ashraf said, 'Everyone was in fear, it was very quiet.'
Pakistani officials alleged that the militants used women and children as human shields. The BLA denied these allegations.
TERRORIST ACTS HAVE INCREASED IN BALOCHISTAN
According to a report by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, militant attacks in Balochistan increased by more than 80 percent last year, and more than 320 people lost their lives. Most of the attacks were claimed by the BLA and its ally, the Balochistan Liberation Front.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement on Tuesday, emphasized that the 'negotiation option is not on the table,' stating:
'The cowardly terrorists who carried out this despicable attack deserve no leniency.'
CLAIMS THAT 'THE TALIBAN IS BEHIND THE ATTACKS'
The Pakistani military reported that the attack was organized by terrorist gang leaders operating from Afghanistan. The military called on the Taliban administration in Afghanistan to ''refuse the use of their territory for terrorist activities against Pakistan.'' The Taliban government has not yet responded to these claims.
The BLA has carried out attacks in recent years, particularly targeting Chinese interests. Two Chinese workers lost their lives in an attack in Karachi in October. Security analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi pointed out that there is a consensus between the Pakistani and Chinese governments, especially regarding the development of economic relations.
Rizvi stated that the train hijacking was a 'serious security threat to Pakistan,' adding that some parts of the province have now become 'ungovernable.' Rizvi argued that a large portion of the youth in Balochistan feel excluded from economic development and that a dialogue must be established with these people.