Pakistani forces continue to work to release hundreds of a kidnapped train | Transportation

Pakistan says 155 hostages were rescued, but another 300 were on the train seized from the Belokistan liberation army.

The Pakistani security forces said they had saved 155 train passengers abducted by separatist forces, as operations to release hundreds were continuing.

The military started a major operation on Wednesday against the separatists of the Belokistan Liberation Army (BLA), which seized the train the previous day. About 300 hostages remain on board, employees said.

The train, which was transporting about 450 passengers, including army staff, was attacked as it was traveling through the remote Southwestern region of Belokistan, for which Blasian seek independence from Islamabad.

Security forces acted with caution, with captives surrounded by UAV fighters wearing explosive vests. At least 27 of the rebels were killed, employees added.

The number of victims among soldiers, passengers and rebel fighters remains unclear.

BLA has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it has been open to negotiations for exchanging prisoners. He also threatened to start executing hostages on Tuesday, unless political prisoners, activists and missing Baloch persons were abducted from the military, were not released within 48 hours.

So far, there has been no response from the government of the offer or the threat.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif categorically condemned the attack. Government spokesman Shahid Rind described him as an act of terrorism.

The contested terrain of Beluhistan

Bo fighters blew the railway and opened fire on the train in the remote neighborhood of Siby as it was traveling from Queta, the capital of Belokistan, to Peshawar in Hiber Pahtunva.

Belokistan, rich in oil and minerals, is the largest and least populated province in Pakistan. This is the Center for the Ethnic Minority in Baloch in the country whose members say they face discrimination by the central government.

BLA claims that natural resources in the region are operated by outsiders and have increased attacks on Pakistanis, as well as by other regions.

Violence has increased along the western border of the region with Afghanistan after the Taliban restored power in 2021.

BLA carried out deadly attacks with trains and buses. In November, the separatist group committed a suicide attack at the Quette Railway Station, which killed 26 people.

In February, Blaz fighters killed seven Punjabi passengers after being ordered from a bus.

Supported by Chinese infrastructure and citizens around the Arabian Sea are also directed.

Pakistan and the United States have determined BLA, evaluating that they boasted about 3,000 fighters as a terrorist organization.