Militants seize hundreds as hostages in Pakistan, reports AFP
An armed group has allegedly detonated a railway track and taken control of a passenger train in Balochistan province. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
An armed group has taken control of a passenger train in Balochistan province, according to reports from the AFP news agency.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the incident, asserting that its fighters detonated explosives on the railway track before seizing the train in the remote district of Sibi, as noted in a statement from the group.
A senior railway official in Quetta, the provincial capital, has corroborated the report of hostages being taken, with claims that the train driver sustained injuries during the attack.
In a statement purportedly from the BLA circulated on social media, the group has reported that 11 military personnel were killed. They have also threatened to execute all hostages if Pakistani authorities undertake a rescue operation.
The BLA asserts that it has released women, children, and Baloch passengers from the train, retaining around 100 hostages, which they claim include active-duty members of the Pakistani military, police, anti-terrorism forces, and intelligence officials.
The BLA further alleges that it has thwarted a ground assault by the Pakistani military, although aerial attacks from helicopters and drones are reportedly ongoing. The group has demanded an immediate cessation of airstrikes, warning that hostages will be executed within an hour if their demands are not met.
The BLA is recognized as an armed separatist organization seeking independence for Balochistan from the central government in Islamabad. It has been classified as a terrorist group by Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Balochistan is noted as Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, hosting essential mining projects and the ethnic Baloch minority.
Insurgents in the region frequently target police and military forces, as well as foreign personnel, particularly Chinese nationals involved in Pakistan's infrastructure projects tied to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The area is also known to have a presence of Islamist militant groups.
The train involved in this incident is reported to be the Jaffar Express, which operates daily between Quetta and Peshawar under Pakistan Railways.
Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan of providing a sanctuary for BLA fighters, especially prior to the Taliban’s rise to power. Nonetheless, there is no evidence to suggest that the current Afghan government is taking action against the separatists.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the incident, asserting that its fighters detonated explosives on the railway track before seizing the train in the remote district of Sibi, as noted in a statement from the group.
A senior railway official in Quetta, the provincial capital, has corroborated the report of hostages being taken, with claims that the train driver sustained injuries during the attack.
In a statement purportedly from the BLA circulated on social media, the group has reported that 11 military personnel were killed. They have also threatened to execute all hostages if Pakistani authorities undertake a rescue operation.
The BLA asserts that it has released women, children, and Baloch passengers from the train, retaining around 100 hostages, which they claim include active-duty members of the Pakistani military, police, anti-terrorism forces, and intelligence officials.
The BLA further alleges that it has thwarted a ground assault by the Pakistani military, although aerial attacks from helicopters and drones are reportedly ongoing. The group has demanded an immediate cessation of airstrikes, warning that hostages will be executed within an hour if their demands are not met.
The BLA is recognized as an armed separatist organization seeking independence for Balochistan from the central government in Islamabad. It has been classified as a terrorist group by Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Balochistan is noted as Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, hosting essential mining projects and the ethnic Baloch minority.
Insurgents in the region frequently target police and military forces, as well as foreign personnel, particularly Chinese nationals involved in Pakistan's infrastructure projects tied to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The area is also known to have a presence of Islamist militant groups.
The train involved in this incident is reported to be the Jaffar Express, which operates daily between Quetta and Peshawar under Pakistan Railways.
Pakistan has consistently accused Afghanistan of providing a sanctuary for BLA fighters, especially prior to the Taliban’s rise to power. Nonetheless, there is no evidence to suggest that the current Afghan government is taking action against the separatists.
Max Fischer contributed to this report for TROIB News
