QUETTA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Balochistan today, Thursday, to express solidarity with the people of the province, a day after the military announced it had conducted a successful operation against separatists who hijacked a passenger train, rescuing hostages and killing 33 militants.
The Pakistan military spokesperson, Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, told a private news channel on Wednesday night that security forces had killed militant suicide bombers sitting among the hostages before swiftly executing the rescue operation and securing the Quetta-Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express.
The separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) had bombed part of a railway track and stormed the train on Tuesday afternoon in Mushkaaf, a rugged area in the mountainous Bolan range of Balochistan.

The province, Pakistan’s biggest in terms of the landmass, has long been the site of a low-level insurgency, with separatist groups accusing the government of exploiting the province’s natural resources while leaving its people in poverty. Government officials deny the allegation and say they are developing the province through multibillion-dollar projects, including those backed by China.
Sharif praised the security forces for their swift action and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to eliminating militancy from the country in an official statement.
“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Balochistan tomorrow to express solidarity with the people of the province and assess the security situation,” a handout circulated by his office said on Wednesday night.
“The prime minister will also chair a meeting to review the law and order situation,” it added.
On Tuesday night, hours after attacking the train, the BLA said it was holding 214 people hostage, including military, police and intelligence personnel who were traveling home on holiday to meet their families.
The military reported that militants killed 21 hostages soon after seizing control of the train, but there were no further casualties among the passengers during the rescue operation.
Sharif commended the security forces for their handling of the crisis, saying their professionalism ensured the operation was completed without major losses.

“The operation was executed with extraordinary skill,” he said. “We are committed to defeating those who attack innocent civilians on every front.”
According to Lt. Gen. Chaudhry, security forces launched their response shortly after the attack began on Tuesday afternoon. He disclosed that the army, air force, paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) and Special Services Group (SSG) personnel participated in the operation.
Four FC soldiers were killed during the mission, while no army personnel sustained casualties, he added.
Chaudhry noted that passengers who had fled to surrounding areas during the operation were being accounted for.
He also reiterated the militants were in contact with their “handlers” in Afghanistan, a claim frequently made by Pakistani officials who attribute a recent rise in militancy to cross-border influences. The Taliban rulers in Kabul have repeatedly denied providing insurgents a base to plan or execute attacks in Pakistan.
“This changes the rules of the game,” Chaudhry said during his interview while referring to the hostage crisis, without elaborating on his statement.

ISLAMABD: Pakistani and Danish officials this week discussed Denmark’s $2 billion investment to modernize the South Asian country’s maritime affairs infrastructure, Pakistan’s maritime affairs ministry said, as the two sides explored further avenues for bilateral collaboration.

Pakistan and Denmark last October signed a $2 billion memorandum of understanding (MoU) according to which Danish global shipping giant AP Moller–Maersk (Maersk) will invest the amount to modernize Pakistan’s maritime infrastructure and enhance its ports’ efficiency.

Pakistani Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Danish Ambassador Jacob Linulf met on Wednesday to review the progress of the $2 billion investment, the maritime affairs ministry said. 

“The minister emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership, highlighting how Danish expertise in maritime technology can contribute to Pakistan’s economic growth and global trade competitiveness,” the statement said. 

The ministry said that their discussion also covered potential future investments in green shipping, renewable energy solutions for ports and capacity-building initiatives to strengthen Pakistan’s maritime workforce. 

“Both dignitaries reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries,” the statement added. 

The meeting also focused on strengthening cultural ties and promoting tourism between Pakistan and Denmark, with both sides reaffirming their desire to enhance people-to-people exchanges. 

Linulf expressed Denmark’s interest in expanding its footprint in Pakistan’s maritime sector, the ministry said, reiterating his government’s commitment to supporting sustainable and innovative solutions. 

“The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both sides agreeing to accelerate the implementation of the MoU and explore further opportunities for collaboration in trade, investment, and cultural exchange,” the ministry said.