Bolan, Mar 13 (V7N) – Local insurgents hijacked a passenger train near Bolan district in Balochistan, taking hundreds of passengers hostage in a horrifying ordeal. Pakistani law enforcement agencies managed to rescue nearly all the captives, but not before the attackers killed several people, including army personnel.

Passengers described a terrifying night of gunfire, separation, and killings at the hands of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Survivors recounted their harrowing experiences to international media, including BBC, AFP, and The New York Times.

  • Noman Ahmed, a passenger from Punjab, said, "We heard an explosion and locked our compartment doors, but the gunmen broke in. They separated women and the elderly from the rest. Injured passengers who refused to leave were shot on the spot."
  • Ishaq Noor, another survivor, told the BBC, "There was constant gunfire. We could barely breathe, fearing for our lives."
  • Mohammad Ashraf, who was traveling with his family, said, "We shielded our children, hoping to take the bullets instead. It felt like the end of the world."
  • Mohammad Naveed, speaking to AFP, revealed that insurgents checked identity cards to determine who was from Balochistan and who was an outsider. They executed several soldiers in front of the passengers.

Reports indicate that the attackers deliberately sought out military personnel traveling on the Zafar Express, killing them in a brush-fire attack. The Pakistani government has condemned the incident, announcing a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism and vowing to track down the perpetrators.

Authorities continue their investigation as security in Balochistan remains on high alert following the escalation of separatist violence.

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