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Pakistani separatist militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for hijacking the train and holding 214 passengers hostage.
A man stands near charred truck containers torched by armed separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) at central Bolan district in Balochistan. (IMAGE: AFP FILE)
Pakistani separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) issued a fresh deadline to the Pakistani government on Tuesday demanding the release of Baloch political prisoners in exchange for the 214 hostages it is holding.
In its newly released statement, it called the Pakistani government an “occupying state” and listed its demands. “BLA has maintained complete control of the train and all hostages for the past eight hours. Under the rules of war, these 214 hostages are considered prisoners of war and BLA is prepared for a prisoner exchange. The occupying state of Pakistan is given 48 hours to immediately and unconditionally release Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and national resistance activists,” the statement said.
“If our demands are not met within the stipulated period or if the occupying state attempts any military action during this time all prisoners of war will be neutralized and the train will be completely destroyed. The Pakistani army will bear full responsibility for the consequences,” Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army, said.
Sources speaking to CNN-News18 said that any aerial attack on the train will not work. They also said that the ultimatum issued by the armed separatists is too short to complete demands. Baloch activist Mama Qadir Baloch claimed that all army personnel inside the train have been killed.
The BLA, which seeks independence for Balochistan province bordering both Afghanistan and Iran, said it had killed over a dozen soldiers and shot down a drone. There was no confirmation of that from Pakistani authorities.
The group said the hostages included Pakistan army members and other security officials travelling on leave.
Baloch militants wounded the driver as they took control of the train in a remote, mountainous area of Balochistan’s Sibi.
Security forces have been battling a decades-long insurgency in impoverished Balochistan, which militant groups claim is being exploited by outsiders, with wealth from its natural resources syphoned off with little benefit to the local population.
- Location :
Islamabad, Pakistan
