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Pakistan rescues hostages from hijacked train as military operations continue
Pakistani security forces have successfully rescued 190 passengers from a train hijacked by separatist militants. Operations to free the remaining hostages continue as the military presses on with efforts to release around 250 captives still held by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which took control of the train the day before.
The train, traveling through the southwestern region of Balochistan, was carrying around 450 passengers, including military personnel, when it was seized by BLA fighters seeking independence for Balochistan from Pakistan. The BLA has stated they are open to negotiations, proposing a prisoner swap, but also threatened to execute hostages unless certain Baloch political prisoners, activists, and missing individuals allegedly abducted by the military are freed within 48 hours.
The Pakistani military has approached the situation carefully, aware that the captives are surrounded by BLA militants wearing explosive vests. As of now, 30 BLA fighters have been killed, although the full extent of casualties among soldiers, passengers, and militants remains unclear.
The attack occurred in the remote Sibi district, where BLA fighters blew up railway tracks and opened fire on the train as it traveled from Quetta to Peshawar. Balochistan, rich in oil and minerals, is Pakistan’s largest and least populated province. The ethnic Baloch minority, which has long accused the central government of discrimination and exploitation of regional resources, has been central to the ongoing separatist efforts. The BLA has escalated its attacks on Pakistanis and others, targeting trains, buses, and Chinese-backed infrastructure in the area.
Violence in the region has intensified since the Taliban's resurgence in Afghanistan in 2021. Both Pakistan and the United States have labeled the BLA a terrorist organization, with an estimated 3,000 fighters.
