After nearly 30 hours, Pakistani forces successfully rescued hostages from the clutches of Baloch rebels. According to sources, the operation was completed late Wednesday night. However, at least 28 soldiers were reportedly killed by the insurgents. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), on the other hand, claims to have killed at least 50 soldiers.

According to AFP, after a prolonged battle, all hostages were freed from the Jafar Express. An anonymous Pakistani military official stated that 346 hostages were rescued, but 28 soldiers lost their lives. Among them, 27 were deliberately executed by the rebels, while one soldier was killed during the rescue mission. Notably, none of the deceased soldiers were on duty on the train. The insurgents had already killed six security personnel before the rescue operation.

The Baloch Liberation Army had earlier warned that any attempt to rescue the hostages would result in the execution of Pakistani soldiers. They claim that at least 50 soldiers were killed as a consequence. In response, the Pakistani government planned drone strikes against the insurgents, leading to further escalations. The attack took place when the Jafar Express, carrying passengers and security personnel, was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. The rebels hijacked the train with nearly 500 passengers and demanded the release of political prisoners within 48 hours. However, before the deadline ended, Pakistani forces launched an operation, killing 33 rebels and rescuing the hostages.