Pakistan

Pakistan: At Least 190 Hostages Freed Amid Ongoing Train Hijacking

MAR 12 2025·Updated MAR 14 2025

Story

Above: Pakistani security forces in Mach, southwestern Balochistan province on March 12, 2025. Image credit: Banaras Khan//Contributor/AFP via Getty Images

The Facts

At least 190 hostages have been freed, sources from Pakistan's security services told the media early on Wednesday as they continued their operation against armed militants aboard a hijacked train in Balochistan province in the southwest of the country.
DAWN.COM
CNN
It came after militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) took control of a Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta, Balochistan's capital city, to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the northwest at roughly 1 pm local time on Tuesday.
Al Jazeera
France 24
The separatist group said it had bombed the tracks before storming the train in Sibi district, threatening to kill hostages if Pakistani authorities did not begin releasing political prisoners from Balochistan within 48 hours. It also warned of "severe consequences" if there was an attempt to rescue hostages.
BBC News
Reuters
The New Arab
Nonetheless, security services said they launched a massive rescue operation and Reuters reported that hundreds of troops had descended to the remote location via helicopters. Security sources said that so far, 30 BLA militants had been killed.
DAWN.COM
Reuters
However, they added the operation had been complicated by militants wearing suicide vests and placing themselves alongside the hostages. Current reports suggest that at least 10 people have been killed, including the driver of the train.
DAWN.COM
Reuters

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

This is a cowardly attack from terrorists with backing from their handlers in Afghanistan. While the operation is delicate due to the taking of hostages and use of suicide vests, the government of Pakistan will not negotiate with terrorists and strong actions will be taken against them — without any of their demands being met.

DAWN.COM

Lemonde

Narrative B

People from the impoverished Balochistan province have for years been disenfranchised by the Pakistani government which has profited from its natural resources without any benefit to the local population. The Pakistani government ought to realize that things can't go on as before and that changes need to be made.

Eurasian Times

CNN