GUWAHATI: Pakistani security forces recently rescued over 100 passengers after separatist militants hijacked a train in Balochistan, but dozens remain held hostage.
ALSO READ: Baloch Liberation Army Hijacks Train in Pakistan, Holds Hundreds Hostage
Officials reportedly shared the update on Wednesday, March 12, as a security operation is ongoing to free the remaining captives, though the exact number has not been specified.
Security forces have killed at least 27 militants so far, but the exact number of attackers remains unclear. Several of the rescued passengers were brought to Quetta early Wednesday, where their families were waiting. "People were attacked ... passengers were injured, and some died," one of the survivors reportedly said.
The attackers, wearing suicide bombs, were reportedly sitting among the hostages, leading to the complication of rescue efforts. Belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the militants hijacked the Jaffar Express earlier on Tuesday while it was en route from Quetta to Peshawar. They blew up a railway track and opened fire on the train, taking control of it.
The BLA has claimed responsibility for the attack, demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners, activists, and missing persons allegedly abducted by the military. The group also threatened to start executing hostages if their demands were not met within 48 hours.
The BLA initially claimed to be holding 214 people hostage, but other security sources stated that 425 passengers were aboard when the attack occurred.
Following the attack, Pakistan Railways has suspended all train services from Punjab and Sindh to Balochistan until security agencies confirm the route is safe. Meanwhile, the government has assured reporters that it is working to rescue the rest of the victims as soon as possible.
