Militant Group Attacks Passenger Train In Pakistan; Takes Over 100 Persons Hostage: Report
Bolan, Pakistan: Militants in Pakistan’s Baluchistan have reportedly hijacked a passenger train on Tuesday. The militant attacked the Jaffar Express in the Bolan area, took around 100 passengers as hostage including security officials.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has allegedly claimed responsibility for the attack on the passenger train. After taking control of the train, the militants declared that they had taken around 100 passengers hostage, reports Times of India citing police and Railway officials.
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The train was on its way from Quetta in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when the militants attacked it.
The BLA has been seeking autonomy for the Baluchistan, for decades, the gap between the state and the people in the Baloch regions have increased due to miliary interventions and alleged mistrust.
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The Jaffar Express, reported had over 400 passengers on board.
In a statement, the BLA wanred the hostages will be killed if Pakistani forces launch an operation. The military boarded the train after blowing up the railway tracks and forcing the train to stop.
“Any military incursion will be met with an equally forceful response. So far, six military personnel have been killed, and hundreds of passengers remain under BLA custody. The Baloch Liberation Army takes full responsibility for this operation,” the militant spokesperson said.
