English News Description: The Zafar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, encountered a devastating explosion under the engine as it approached the 8th mountain tunnel near Mashkaf. The blast caused the train to stop, and immediately, armed Baloch insurgents launched their attack. The train was hijacked for nearly 30 hours, holding passengers and the crew captive.

Amjad, the driver of the train, recalled hearing the deafening explosion and said that many passengers, including himself, remained still in fear, with some lying motionless, mistaken for the dead. Insurgents believed the train’s occupants were lifeless and proceeded cautiously, which ultimately spared their lives. The attackers, members of the Balochistan Liberation Army, began targeting passengers and inquired about their regions of origin, separating them into groups. They specifically targeted military personnel traveling on the train, executing several soldiers. Despite numerous escape attempts, many passengers were killed or severely injured. After intense negotiations and a military rescue operation, most of the hostages were freed, though 21 civilians and four soldiers lost their lives in the ordeal.