A separatist group called the “Balochistan Liberation Army” in Pakistan carried out an attack on a train with around 500 people aboard. It is reported that at least 100 individuals on the train have been taken hostage. The possibility of casualties and injuries in the attack has been noted.

In the Balochistan province of southwest Pakistan, it was reported that a train with approximately 500 people onboard was subjected to an armed attack. According to Dawn Newspaper, Shahid Rind, the Balochistan Government Spokesperson, announced that an armed attack was launched on a train traveling from Ketta in the province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Rind mentioned that security forces have been dispatched to the region and efforts are being made to bring the situation under control. The Railway Controller, Muhammad Kashif, confirmed that armed individuals stopped the train in the 8th tunnel in Ketta. Kashif stated that efforts are being made to reach approximately 500 passengers and staff on the train. The Health Ministry Spokesperson, Dr. Waseem Baig, declared an emergency at the Sibi Hospital in the area and informed that ambulances have been directed to the scene.

AT LEAST 100 INDIVIDUALS TAKEN HOSTAGE
While the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack, local reports suggest that at least 100 passengers have been taken hostage. Additionally, it was noted that the region where the train was stopped is mountainous, making it easier for suspects to hide and plan the attack. The possibility of casualties and injuries in the attack is emphasized.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Muhsin Nakvi condemned the attack, stating, “The monsters firing at innocent passengers do not deserve any privilege.”

“THE ATTACKERS HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED”
Sources from the Pakistan military, speaking to journalists, referred to this as a “terrorist attack,” stating that security forces have surrounded the attackers and that a conflict between them is ongoing. Sources mentioned that due to the assailants using women and children as human shields in challenging terrain conditions, the operation is being conducted very meticulously. Emphasizing that the security forces will continue the operation until the last terrorist is neutralized, the sources highlighted the importance of relying on information from reliable sources rather than misleading and fabricated propaganda circulating on social media.

TERROR ISSUE IN PAKISTAN
Armed attacks in Pakistan have been concentrated in the Hayber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, particularly bordering Afghanistan. Armed groups claiming to defend the rights of Pashtun and Baluchi ethnic groups in both provinces have been targeting Pakistan security forces and civilians. Islamabad alleges that the Pakistan Taliban (TTP) is entrenched in Afghanistan and orchestrating attacks from there, a claim refuted by the Afghan government. In Balochistan, BLA attacks are prominent, with the group advocating for the province’s separation from Pakistan and the governance of the Baloch people in the region.