Pakistan train attack survivors 'crouched for hours' to survive
 

 Hostages freed after a day-long ordeal following an attack by militants on a train in Pakistan's Balochistan province described crouching on the floor for hours before their release, as the bodies of 25 people killed arrived in Quetta.
The separatist Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for Tuesday's attack on the Jaffar Express, during which they blew up train tracks and held passengers hostage in a day-long standoff with security services in a remote mountain pass.

Pakistan's military said it had killed 33 attackers and that the siege had ended, but the claim was refuted by the BLA, which said in a Thursday statement that it still had hostages and the battle with security services was ongoing.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the BLA claims.

Men armed with rocket launchers, guns, and other weapons stormed the train and began shooting people, said Arslan Yousaf, one of several rescued hostages who arrived in regional capital Quetta on Thursday, escorted by security forces.

The militants grouped the passengers on the basis of their region of origin, Yousaf added.
"Sometimes, they took soldiers ... and executed them," he said, referring to passengers from the Pakistan Army and other security forces who were travelling on leave.

"Other times, they targeted specific individuals. If they had a grudge against someone, they shot him on the spot."

The hostages survived only on water during the time they were held, said Muhammad Tanveer, another passenger.
The BLA are fighting a decades-long insurgency to win independence for the mineral-rich province, home to major China-led projects such as a port and a gold and copper mine.

A total of 21 hostages and four security troops were killed in the standoff, according to the military, but the BLA - the largest of Balochistan's armed ethnic groups battling the government - said 50 hostages were executed.

"The terrorists breached the train by smashing windows, but they mistakenly believed we were dead," said train driver Amjad, who dived to the engine floor for cover when the militants opened fire and crouched there for about 27 hours to survive.

Mehboob Ahmed, 31, who was shot several times, said the hostages made two attempts to escape from the train and while some succeeded, many were killed as the armed men opened fire.

"We had nearly lost hope for survival," he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Quetta on Thursday for a briefing on the security situation.

"No such incident has ever happened in the history of Pakistan," Sharif told a meeting of parliamentarians and military officers in the city.

BLA said that the people Pakistan "claimed" to have rescued were actually released by the group itself.

"Now that the state has abandoned its hostages to die it will also bear responsibility for their deaths," the group's spokesperson, Jeeyand Baloch, said in a statement on Thursday.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-train-hijack-hostages-end-ordeal-with-arrival-quetta-2025-03-13/

Comprehension

What happened to the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province?
Who claimed responsibility for the attack, and what is their motive?
How did the militants treat the hostages during the attack?
What did the Pakistan military claim about the outcome of the siege?
How did the BLA respond to the military’s claims?
How did some of the hostages manage to survive the ordeal?
What challenges did the hostages face while being held captive?
What was Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s reaction to the attack?
What did the BLA spokesperson say about the hostages’ release?
Why is Balochistan a region of conflict?

Discussion

How do attacks like this affect the security and stability of a country?
What can governments do to prevent such attacks in the future?
Why do militant groups like the BLA resort to violence, and how should authorities address their grievances?
How do hostage situations impact the mental and emotional well-being of survivors?
What role does international media play in reporting such incidents?
What are the ethical responsibilities of governments when dealing with hostage situations?
If you were in a hostage situation, how do you think you would react?
What are the dangers of misinformation in conflict situations like this?
How can local communities and governments work together to prevent violence in conflict-prone areas?
What are the long-term effects of ongoing conflicts on the people living in affected areas?

Vocabulary

Ordeal – a difficult or painful experience, especially one that lasts a long time.
Militants – people engaged in fighting, especially for a political cause.
Separatist – a person or group wanting independence from a larger political entity.
Hostage – a person held captive to force others to meet demands.
Standoff – a situation where neither side can gain an advantage.
Siege – a military operation in which an area is surrounded to force surrender.
Grudge – a long-standing feeling of resentment.
Insurgency – a rebellion or uprising against a government or authority.
Executed – deliberately killed, usually as a form of punishment or revenge.
Spokesperson – a person who speaks on behalf of a group or organization.