Quetta, March 12(HS): The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked a passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Tuesday and took control of it. More than 30 soldiers have been reported killed in the attack, with several others injured. The train was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar. By attacking the Jafar Express, the BLA has taken 214 passengers hostage. The BLA has issued a stern warning to the Pakistani government, stating that if the Pakistani army takes any action against them, all hostages will be killed.
This 9-coach train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar had approximately 500 passengers on board. The attackers stopped the train using explosions and gunfire inside a tunnel, injuring the train driver. The BLA claims to have killed over 30 military personnel and has threatened to kill the hostages if military intervention continues. Currently, the train has been stranded near the tunnel for about seven hours since the hijacking.
In a statement released by the BLA, they issued an ultimatum to Pakistan’s Shahbaz government, warning that if airstrikes against them do not cease, all hostages will be killed within the next hour. The organization claims that during this attack, they also shot down a Pakistani military drone. Meanwhile, there has been no official statement from the Pakistan Army or police regarding this incident. However, security agencies are holding an emergency meeting to this crisis.
According to sources, the Pakistan Army has prepared for airstrikes to deal with the BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) and special forces have been deployed. Meanwhile, the BLA has issued an ultimatum of 48 hours to the Pakistan government, demanding the exchange of prisoners. The organization has stated that if Baloch prisoners and those who have been forcibly disappeared are not released immediately, Pakistan will face serious consequences.
The BLA claims to have inflicted heavy losses on the Pakistani army during an intense eight-hour clash. The organization asserts that the presence of Pakistani security agencies in Balochistan is completely unacceptable and they should be removed immediately. Additionally, the BLA has demanded the shutdown of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities have initiated an investigation into this incident, and an emergency has been declared in Sibi and the Civil Hospital Quetta. The government has stated that they are taking all necessary steps for the safe release of the hostages.
The BLA has been advocating for the independence of Balochistan for a long time. The organization accuses Pakistan of exploiting the natural resources of the Baloch community and violating human rights in the region. They have repeatedly targeted joint projects of China and Pakistan, especially CPEC, which is considered crucial for both Beijing and Islamabad.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
