Balochistan Train Attack: Insurgents Hijack Jaffar Express, Take Hostages
Separatist militants attacked a passenger train in Balochistan, injuring the driver and reportedly taking over 180 hostages, including military personnel.
Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province and the richest in terms of natural resources, but it is the least developed.
Pakistan militants attack train and take passengers hostage
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A decades-old insurgency in Balochistan by separatist militant groups has led to frequent attacks against the government, army and Chinese interests in the region, pressing demands for a share in mineral-rich resources.
Separatists say they have taken hostages in attack on train in Pakistan
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Oil- and mineral-rich Balochistan is Pakistan's largest, but also its least populated province.
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The militancy movement has been gathering fresh momentum in recent years amid a decline in Pakistan’s security situation since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Militants say 182 people taken hostage as train hijacked in Pakistan
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Insurgents ambush and open fire at a passenger train in southwestern Pakistan
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Summary
On Tuesday, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, injuring the driver and claiming to have taken 182 hostages. Pakistani authorities have condemned the assault, which involved explosive sabotage of track infrastructure, and described the situation as a significant act of terrorism. The train remains trapped in a tunnel amid fears for the safety of those onboard. Security forces have mobilized to the area, although access is complicated due to the terrain. This attack reflects ongoing violence in Balochistan stemming from a long-running insurgency by ethnic Baloch separatists seeking independence.
Perspectives
A separatist group in Balochistan, Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for an attack on a passenger train, resulting in injuries to the driver and reportedly taking hostages, with the security situation in the region described as deteriorating.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has threatened to execute hostages if security forces intervene, highlighting the group's ongoing insurgency and demands for greater autonomy or independence for Balochistan.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by the Pakistani government in addressing the long-standing grievances of the Baloch people, who have felt marginalized and exploited amid the region's rich natural resources.