Pakistani train hijacked by Baloch Liberation Army, 20 soldiers killed and 182 taken hostage

ISLAMABAD: The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which is fighting for an independent Balochistan, has hijacked a train in Pakistan and taken 182 people hostage. The hostages include soldiers, policemen and members of the spy agency ISI. 20 security personnel were killed in the attack.

The highjackers were targeting the train carrying army personnel on their way home for leave. The BLA said that civilians, including women and children, were safely released. It is reported that there were about 500 people in nine coaches.

The Jafar Express, which was going from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was hijacked at 9 am. The incident took place in the Mushqaf area of ​​Bolan in Balochistan province. The attack took place when the train approached a tunnel in a mountainous area.

The Balochistan provincial government and the Pakistani army have launched a mission to free the hostages. BLA spokesman Gianand Baloch warned that the hostages would be killed if Pakistan takes military action.

Loco pilot shot down

The security forces destroyed one of the railway tracks in the Peru Country area of ​​Kutch district. They opened fire on the train near tunnel number 8. The loco pilot was killed. The train was under the control of the security forces

Goal, to free Balochistan from Pakistan

• Balochistan province is located on the border of Pakistan and Iran. Since it is a mountainous region, the Pakistani army cannot advance quickly. It is also difficult to resist the attacks of the protesters.
• Pakistan made it a part of the country through military action and political pressure in 1948. Since then, the demand for an independent state has also started to rise. Provincial status was granted in 1970
• The Liberation Army is the dominant force among the various armed groups fighting for an independent state