At Least 25 Confirmed Dead Following Train Hijacking in Pakistan

In a dramatic two-day rescue operation that concluded late Wednesday, security forces successfully evacuated over 340 passengers from a train hijacked in Pakistan. The incident began when the militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) detonated explosives to damage the railway track before storming the train, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with approximately 450 individuals on board.

Authorities have reported that the operation resulted in the deaths of 33 militants and 21 hostages. On Thursday morning, the bodies of 25 individuals were transported by train from the site of the hijacking to the nearby town of Mach. Among the deceased, four individuals remain unidentified, according to a local official speaking to AFP.

This incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the region, where militant groups have been known to target transportation networks. The government has faced criticism for its handling of security in Balochistan, an area that has seen a rise in violence and unrest in recent years.