ISLAMABAD: Over 150 of the hostages have been freed from the train hijacked by Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) fighting for an independent Balochistan. The encounter between the security forces and BLA is continuing. Reports said 27 separatists have been killed. Several passengers were also injured during the encounter. There were 450 passengers on the train and more than 100 are still held hostages.

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 was when the train was approaching a tunnel in a mountainous area. The Balochistan provincial government and the Pakistan army are on a mission to free the hostages. BLA spokesman Jiand Baloch has warned that the hostages will be killed if Pakistan takes military action.

One of the railway tracks in Peru Country area of Kutch district was destroyed by militants. They opened fire on the train near tunnel number 8. The BLA took control of the train after killing the loco pilot. Balochistan province is located on the border of Pakistan and Iran. Being a mountainous area, the Pakistani army cannot advance quickly. It is also difficult to resist the attacks of the protesters. The Liberation Army is the dominant force among the various armed groups fighting for an independent nation.