Security forces have rescued at least 155 passengers and killed 27 terrorists in an ongoing operation after militants hijacked the Jaffer Express near Balochistan’s Bolan district, state media reported Wednesday.

The attack occurred Tuesday near the Mashkaf Tunnel, about 157 km from Quetta, when terrorists took over 400 passengers hostage, including security personnel. So far, 37 injured have been sent for medical treatment.

Authorities confirmed that the assailants, linked to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), had positioned suicide bombers among hostages, using them as human shields. The operation is being conducted with extreme caution due to the presence of women and children.

The militants initially forced the train to halt by damaging the railway track before taking passengers hostage. Reports indicate that at least 10 people, including the train driver and eight security personnel, lost their lives in the attack.

Security forces launched a large-scale operation in the Dhadar area to eliminate the remaining attackers and rescue all hostages. By late Tuesday, 104 freed passengers were moved to a nearby station. Officials said the train originally carried around 450 passengers, including 200 security personnel.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed deep concern, urging immediate action for the safe release of all captives. Political leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, strongly condemned the attack.

The BLA claimed responsibility, asserting they had released some hostages, though these claims remain unverified. The military operation to recover remaining passengers and neutralize the attackers continues.