Pakistan army says operation against militants who hijacked train has ended, 21 hostages killed

Pakistan army says operation against militants who hijacked train has ended, 21 hostages killed
A Pakistan Army soldier stands guard next to a rescue train, after the attack on a train by separatist militants in Bolan, at the railway station in Mushkaf, Balochistan, Pakistan, March 12, 2025. (REUTERS)
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Updated 12 March 2025
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Pakistan army says operation against militants who hijacked train has ended, 21 hostages killed

Pakistan army says operation against militants who hijacked train has ended, 21 hostages killed
  • Separatist Balochistan Liberation Army outfit stormed train in southwest Pakistan on Tuesday, held over 400 passengers hostage 
  • Pakistan military spokesperson says security forces killed 33 militants, no passengers harmed during final clearance operation

QUETTA: A military operation against militants who hijacked a train in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan a day earlier ended on Wednesday, army spokesperson General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said, with 21 hostages killed. 

The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) bombed part of a railway track and stormed the Quetta-Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express on Tuesday afternoon in Mushkaaf, an area in the mountainous Bolan range of Balochistan. The group said on Tuesday night it was holding 214 people as hostages, including military, police and intelligence officials, while a security official said 190 passengers had been rescued by Wednesday afternoon.

Balochistan province has been the site of a low-level separatist insurgency for decades, with separatist groups accusing the government of stripping the province’s natural resources and leaving its people mired in poverty. They say security forces routinely abduct, torture, and execute ethnic Baloch, allegations echoed by human rights campaigners. Government officials and security forces strongly deny violating human rights and say they are uplifting the province through development projects, including multi-billion-dollar schemes funded by China.




Ambulances are parked outside a railway station where rescued and injured passengers of a train attacked by separatist militants are brought, in Mach, Balochistan, Pakistan, March 12, 2025. (REUTERS)

“Firstly, our forces’ marksmen sent the suicide bombers to hell and in phases cleared all the bogies there to send all terrorists to hell,” Chaudhry told Dunya News, a private TV channel, adding that 33 militants had been killed in the operation, and no passengers were harmed during the final clearance operation by security forces. 

“However, before this operation commenced, these heathen terrorists had already taken 21 lives,” the military spokesperson said.

He said a rescue operation had been launched immediately after the train was attacked on Tuesday, disclosing that the army, air force, paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) force and Special Services Group (SSG) personnel took part in the mission.

Four paramilitary FC soldiers had been killed in the operation, while no army men had been harmed, Chaudhry added.

Passengers who were held hostage and had fled to surrounding areas during the operation were also being accounted for, the military spokesman said. 




Passengers rescued by security forces from a passenger train attacked by insurgents comfort each other upon their arrival at a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP)

ARMY TAKES CONTROL OF RAILWAY STATION 

Earlier on Wednesday afternoon, an Arab News eyewitness described seeing dozens of empty coffins being brought to the Quetta Railway Station in the provincial capital. He said the station was overrun with army personnel while dozens of family members of hostages had arrived in search of their loved ones. These included the family of Amjad Yasin, the 50-year-old driver of the Jaffar Express, who officials said on Tuesday had been killed in the assault. 

“We have been contacting railway officials since yesterday, but no one is telling the truth,” Amir Yasin, the driver’s younger brother, told Arab News. 

“There are multiple reports coming about my brother’s death but how can we believe it until we see his body?” 

Muhammad Abid, a railway employee who was on the train and arrived at Mach Station, described the attack as the most “horrific day” of his life.

“We were sitting in one of the compartments of Jaffar Express when a powerful explosion targeted the train and intense firing started,” he told Arab News over the phone. 

“We hid in the washrooms with other passengers, but then armed men came in and off boarded us from the train,” he added. “After checking our identity cards, they asked us to run on the track. My life flashed before my eyes when I saw dozens of armed men standing on the railway track.”

Muhammad Ashraf, a 68-year-old passenger traveling to Hafizabad in Punjab to meet his daughter, said that when the train departed from Paneer Railway Station, he heard an explosion about seven to eight kilometers into the journey, followed by intense gunfire, saying many people had been killed and injured.

“Armed men boarded the train and asked everyone to leave the train or prepare to die,” he told Arab News, adding that the militants made the passengers walk on the tracks for three and a half hours on foot.
Ashraf said the militants had detained over 200 passengers, in his rough estimate.


Bodies of eight Pakistanis killed in Iran arrive in Bahawalpur for burial

Bodies of eight Pakistanis killed in Iran arrive in Bahawalpur for burial
Updated 22 sec ago
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Bodies of eight Pakistanis killed in Iran arrive in Bahawalpur for burial

Bodies of eight Pakistanis killed in Iran arrive in Bahawalpur for burial
  • The men, who worked as auto repair technicians, were killed by Baloch separatists last week
  • Iran has assured Pakistan of cooperation in bringing the perpetrators of the attack to justice

ISLAMABAD: The bodies of eight Pakistani nationals killed last week in Iran arrived in Bahawalpur in the early hours of Thursday, the local administration confirmed, before being sent to their native villages for burial.
The men, who worked as auto repair technicians, were killed in Mehrestan County in Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, in an attack claimed by the Baloch National Army (BNA), a separatist group operating in Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province.
Pakistani officials said the bodies were flown back from Iran aboard a military aircraft to facilitate urgent burials.
“The bodies of the eight Pakistanis martyred in Sistan, Iran, arrived at Bahawalpur Airport and were dispatched to their respective hometowns,” the district administration of Ahmedpur Sharqia said in a brief statement.
The attack triggered diplomatic activities between the neighboring states of Pakistan and Iran.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a televised address to the federal cabinet on Tuesday, hoped Tehran would immediately arrest the killers and bring them to justice.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi also condoled the killing of the Pakistani nationals in a phone call with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday, assuring him of “full cooperation” in bringing the perpetrators to justice, according to the foreign office in Islamabad.
Thousands of Pakistanis, many from underprivileged backgrounds, cross into Iran for informal work in construction, agriculture and repair services. The killings have raised concerns about the safety of these migrant workers in Iran’s border region, which has long been volatile due to insurgent activity.
Baloch separatists in Pakistan have also waged a low-intensity insurgency in southwestern Pakistan for nearly two decades, accusing the central government of resource exploitation without local benefit.
Islamabad denies the allegations and says it is committed to inclusive development in the province.


Pakistan’s teen comedy sensation takes social media by storm, one hilarious skit at a time

Pakistan’s teen comedy sensation takes social media by storm, one hilarious skit at a time
Updated 7 min 5 sec ago
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Pakistan’s teen comedy sensation takes social media by storm, one hilarious skit at a time

Pakistan’s teen comedy sensation takes social media by storm, one hilarious skit at a time
  • Talha Ahmed, 16, has attracted millions of views on Instagram through comedic skits
  • Shot from only a mobile phone, his videos feature stellar acting and humorous dialogues

KARACHI: In a small building in Karachi’s low-income and densely populated Baldia Town area, 16-year-old Talha Ahmed is busy recording takes for his upcoming video. His videos have recently been a hit with millions of people on Instagram, partly due to his stellar acting and partly due to the relatable themes he employs. 

Ahmed is a content creator who started making humorous skits in July 2024 and has amassed over 324,000 followers on his Instagram handle, talha_ahmed222, after uploading around 116 of them. A recent video of his poking fun at the way India’s Bollywood film industry stereotypes Muslims has notched over 20 million views.

Despite being shot from just a cellphone and without the support of a professional camera or tripod, his skits have the necessary ingredients to evoke bone-tingling laughs: strong scripts, meticulous acting and perfect dialogue delivery. 

“My idea was to create content that families can also enjoy together, something that’s for everyone and can be watched with joy by all,” Ahmed told Arab News. 

His content is indeed relatable. In one of his videos, Ahmed essays the character of that one family member who does not wake up for the suhoor meals in Ramadan and does not fast, but eagerly shows up before everyone else for the evening iftar meal. 

In another video he takes aim at popular journalist and television host Suhail Warraich, expertly blurting out dialogues in his signature impassive tone. 

One particular video Ahmed enjoyed making focused on the behavior of tailors when Eid Al-Fitr looms. The Pakistani content creator poked fun at tailors who habitually lie to customers about their orders. 

“’No, brother, there’s still an issue... the outfit is out for buttoning,’” Ahmed said, mimicking the typical excuses offered by Pakistani tailors. 

'GREAT SKILL, CREATIVE MIND'

Talha’s creative process is largely self-driven. 

“Almost all scripts and ideas for my videos are my own,” he said. 

He wrote many of the videos he shot himself while for others, Ahmed wrote a few lines and then showed them to his family for their feedback. 

“If they wanted to refine it or make any improvements, they helped me with that,” he explained. 

Dr. Taha Ahmed, his brother, helps record the videos and improves the writing in them as well. He recalled how Ahmed recorded some of the earlier videos, when he didn’t even own a mobile phone. 

“Some days, he would use his sister’s phone to make videos and other days, he would use his brother’s phone to create content,” Dr. Taha told Arab News. 

“That is a testament to his great skill and creative mind.”

Talha said his ability to connect with the audience stems from the fact that he lives with the same ground realities they do.

 “The issues I face are the same as those faced by other people,” he explained. “These are relatable, and people can connect with them because we live in the same society that others live in.”

Talha balances his growing online career with his education, having completed his matriculation exams recently. 

He suffers from thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that requires regular transfusions and management, since childhood. 

However, he doesn’t let the disease define who he is. 

“Today, praise be to Allah, my work is my identity— my illness is not my reference,” he said.


Pakistan says UN peacekeeping at a crossroads, urges revitalized multilateral action

Pakistan says UN peacekeeping at a crossroads, urges revitalized multilateral action
Updated 42 min 42 sec ago
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Pakistan says UN peacekeeping at a crossroads, urges revitalized multilateral action

Pakistan says UN peacekeeping at a crossroads, urges revitalized multilateral action
  • Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar asks Security Council to provide unified support to all peace operations
  • He describes UN peacekeeping as one of the most cost-effective means of maintaining international stability

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday warned that United Nations peacekeeping efforts were at a crossroads, strained by widening geopolitical rifts and financial pressures, even as they remain one of the most cost-effective means of maintaining international stability and require urgent multilateral support.
The remarks were made by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during the closing session of a high-level peacekeeping preparatory meeting co-hosted by Pakistan and the Republic of Korea in Islamabad.
UN peacekeeping, a flagship effort to help countries navigate the path from conflict to peace, deploys over 70,000 personnel worldwide. Pakistan has long been one of its top troop contributors, with over 235,000 personnel having served in 48 missions over the past six decades.
“The threat to multilateralism, rising unilateralism and financial pressures are straining the sustainability and effectiveness of UN peacekeeping operations, underscoring the urgent need to revitalize multilateral cooperation and adapting peacekeeping to a rapidly evolving global landscape,” Dar said.
“The Security Council must provide unified and consistent support to all peace operations,” he added. “Mandates must be clear, focused and grounded in field realities.”
Dar also called for greater inclusion of troop-contributing countries in mission design, better resourcing aligned with mandates, accountability for attacks on peacekeepers and stronger regional partnerships, including with the African Union and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Over the two-day conference, participants explored the use of advanced technologies, such as drones, counter-improvised explosive device (IED) systems and simulation-based training, to enhance the safety and performance of peacekeepers.
Dar said credible deterrence and accountability were necessary to protect personnel in increasingly complex and hostile environments.
He also paid tribute to the 4,423 peacekeepers from over 130 countries who have lost their lives in the line of duty, including 181 Pakistanis.
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s support for the UN Charter and the need for peacekeeping to be part of a broader political strategy that addresses the root causes of conflict.
He emphasized that without inclusive political solutions, peacekeeping can only offer temporary relief.


Pakistani diplomat, 178 devotees visit Sufi shrine in Indian capital amid tense ties

Pakistani diplomat, 178 devotees visit Sufi shrine in Indian capital amid tense ties
Updated 17 April 2025
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Pakistani diplomat, 178 devotees visit Sufi shrine in Indian capital amid tense ties

Pakistani diplomat, 178 devotees visit Sufi shrine in Indian capital amid tense ties
  • Amir Khusro, a revered mystic, is celebrated for shaping Indo-Islamic culture through music and poetry
  • Religious tourism between the two states has persisted despite their strained relations since August 2019

ISLAMABAD: A senior Pakistani diplomat on Wednesday paid tribute at the shrine of a 13th-century Muslim mystic in New Delhi, joining 178 devotees from his country who traveled to India to mark the saint’s death anniversary, even as diplomatic ties between the two countries remain strained.
Amir Khusro, a revered Sufi and disciple of Nizamuddin Aulia, is celebrated for shaping Indo-Islamic culture through his poetry, music and promotion of the Persian and Hindavi languages.
Despite the downgrading of bilateral relations since August 2019, when India revoked the special constitutional status of the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir, religious tourism between the two countries has persisted.
“The Charge d’ Affaires of Pakistan to India, Mr. Saad Ahmad Warraich, laid the traditional chaddar [a decorative cloth] on behalf of the Government and people of Pakistan at the shrine of the famous mystic saint, Hazrat Amir Khusro (RA), in New Delhi, today,” the Pakistani High Commission said in a statement.
“A group of 178 Pakistani Zaireen [devotees] visiting India to participate in the 721 Urs celebrations of Hazrat Amir Khusro (RA) were also present on the occasion,” it added.
The Urs is an annual commemoration of a Sufi saint’s death anniversary, observed as a spiritual reunion with the divine.
According to the statement, the Pakistani diplomat and religious devotees were warmly received at the shrine by its caretaker.
The visit was organized under the 1974 Pakistan-India Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, which facilitates reciprocal religious tourism between the two countries.
The development comes as Pakistan recently issued nearly 6,000 visas to Indian Sikhs to visit Pakistan for the Baisakhi festival, one of Sikhism’s holiest celebrations, marking the spring harvest and the founding of the Khalsa in 1699.
Thousands of pilgrims gathered at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in the Pakistani city of Hasan Abdal, believed to bear the handprint of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith.
Many Indian pilgrims remain in Pakistan, visiting other sacred sites including Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur.


Hungarian FM to visit Pakistan today with high-level delegation to explore business opportunities

Hungarian FM to visit Pakistan today with high-level delegation to explore business opportunities
Updated 11 min 32 sec ago
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Hungarian FM to visit Pakistan today with high-level delegation to explore business opportunities

Hungarian FM to visit Pakistan today with high-level delegation to explore business opportunities
  • Pakistan and Hungary to sign agreements on culture, heritage and visas during foreign minister’s visit 
  • Deepening collaboration in trade, energy and investment sectors focus of both governments, says Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Hungary’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan today, Thursday, with a high-level delegation to explore business opportunities in the country, Pakistan’s foreign office said. 

Szijjártó is touring the country Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s invitation, the foreign office said, adding that the two will hold delegation-level talks after holding one-on-one discussions. 

“Deepening collaboration in economic, trade, energy and investment sectors is the focus of the two governments,” the foreign office said on Wednesday. 

It said various memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and an agreement on cooperation in the fields of culture (2025-2027), archaeology and cultural heritage, and for abolition of visas for holders of diplomatic passports will be signed between the two countries on the occasion. 

“This would be FM Szijjártó’s second visit to Pakistan, aimed at lending positive impetus to enhanced bilateral cooperation and mutually rewarding economic partnership,” the statement said. 

Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with Hungary and this year Islamabad will mark 60 years of the establishment of its diplomatic relations with the country. The two countries enjoy cooperation in energy, with Hungarian oil and gas company MOL Group actively investing in Pakistan’s oil and gas exploration sector since the early 2000s.

MOL Pakistan has invested heavily in exploration and production, especially in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. 

Pakistan has pursued agreements in trade, energy, tourism, livestock, mining and minerals and other priority sectors with regional allies and Gulf countries in recent months. Islamabad hopes to attract foreign investment in its priority sectors to achieve sustainable growth. 

Pakistan formed the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in June 2023 to attract international investment in these sectors, mainly from Gulf countries. The SIFC says it aims to fast-track decisions related to investments.