Armed militants in Pakistan’s Balochistan region have attacked a train carrying more than 400 passengers and taken a number of them hostage, military sources told the BBC on Tuesday.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fired at the Jaffar Express Train as it travelled from Quetta to Peshawar.
The separatist group said it had bombed the track before storming the train in the remote Sibi district, claiming the train was under its control.
At least 16 militants have been killed and 100 passengers were freed as of Wednesday morning, local media reported. The BBC has not been able to independently verify those figures.
Among those released are 17 injured passengers, who have been admitted to hospital for treatment.
The militants had threatened to kill hostages if authorities did not release Baloch political prisoners within 48 hours, according to local reports.
The rescue operation is ongoing.
I’m no militant pro, but you’re not really leaving yourself many options seizing a train. Something that has no escape options but forward and backward on track switches you don’t control, and it’s very easily encircled.
But wait, there’s more…
A senior police official said it “remains stuck just before a tunnel surrounded by mountains”
Yep, I’d be very scared to be a hostage as it’s quite clear my life is about the only option of escape they got.
They bombed the track, they weren’t planning on going anywhere. I think the plan is about the hostages
Oh, I thought they just said they did to get the train to stop faster.
