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The lives of at least dozens of rail passengers are on the line after the Baloch Liberation Army blew up tracks and took over a train in Pakistan.
Hundreds of people were on board the Jaffar Express Train from Quetta to Peshawar when it was stormed by the separatist group.
Now the BLA has threatened to kill 214 hostages if Pakistan’s government doesn’t release what it describes as Baloch ‘political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and national resistance activists’ within 48 hours.
In a statement, they said: ‘If our demands are not met… or if the occupying state attempts any military action during this time all prisoners of war will be completely destroyed.’
Local police say the number of hostages is actually 35, while 350 are believed to be safe.
Many of the escapees – mainly women, children and the elderly – fled roughly 6km to the nearest train station.
The train remains trapped in a tunnel in a mountainous area near the city of Sibi. Its driver is dead.
Largely an arid desert, Balochistan – Pakistan’s largest province – is the most sparsely populated part of the country.
For decades, it’s been the scene of fighting over the southwest region’s future, with separatists wanting to secede from Pakistan.
The BLA has led that fight for at least the last 25 years.
Bombs and explosions have killed hundred of people in recent years, but this train raid is one of the most brazen attacks claimed by the group.
Pakistan’s military has responded with a ‘massive operation’, including helicopters and special forces.
‘The operation will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated’, they said.
The BLA claims it has killed 30 soldiers and shot down a drone. It claims its hostages include military personnel.
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