Baloch Separatist Group in Pakistan Takes Train Passengers Hostage

The 'Baloch Liberation Army', the largest of several separatist groups in the southwestern province of Balochistan, Pakistan, claims to have taken 182 hostages, including Pakistani military personnel, during an attack on a train on Tuesday, March 12. They threatened to kill the hostages if security forces do not leave the area. Local officials, police, and railway authorities reported that the train, which had about 400 passengers, became trapped in a tunnel, and the driver was severely injured. Security forces stated that an explosion was heard near the tunnel and they were exchanging fire with militants in a mountainous area. The Baloch Liberation Army, which seeks independence for Balochistan bordering Afghanistan and Iran, claimed to have killed 20 soldiers and shot down a drone. As of the time of this report, Pakistani officials had not confirmed these claims. The train was traveling from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar. According to Reuters, the Baloch Liberation Army stated in a release that 'civilian passengers, especially women, children, the elderly, and Baloch citizens, have been released safely and provided with a safe route.' The group also warned that it would kill all hostages if military intervention continued. Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, stating that the government would not give any concessions to 'beasts who open fire on innocent passengers.' Shahid Rind, a spokesman for the Balochistan provincial government, told CNN that 'heavy gunfire' was reported on the train. Rind added that the train is currently held in the mountainous Sibi area of Balochistan, making access 'challenging.' The Baloch people believe they are not receiving a fair share of the revenues from Balochistan's natural resources, leading to unrest among several separatist groups against the Pakistani government. The Baloch Liberation Army is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the Pakistani government.