Security sources: 155 hostages freed, 27 militants killed in Pakistan train siege
Pakistani security forces say they have freed 155 hostages and killed 27 militants, as operations to rescue passengers of a train siege in the country's southwestern Balochistan province continue for the second consecutive day.
Security forces said they have freed 155 hostages from around 450 passengers, including women and children, adding that the operation for the release of the remaining passengers is underway.
According to security sources, the militants have positioned bombers right next to innocent hostage passengers, which has made them carry out the rescue operation with utmost caution.
On Tuesday, gunmen attacked the Jaffar Express carrying around 450 passengers in nine bogies, which was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar.
The gunmen bombed the railway track before storming aboard the train.
The attack was immediately claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group which is seeking independence from Islamabad's control.
At least three people, including the train driver, were killed in the assault.
Balochistan, a resource-rich but long-neglected province, has been at the center of violence led by separatist groups, particularly the BLA, and other Takfiri terrorist groups. The group claims that Islamabad exploits the province’s natural resources, such as gold and copper while neglecting the local population.
Energy projects, especially those involving Chinese investments, have been key targets of BLA attacks, as the group claims that foreign powers and Pakistan’s central government are looting the region’s resources without benefiting its people.
Pakistan saw a sharp rise in terrorist attacks last year, making it the deadliest year in a decade, with at least 1,500 people killed in violence across the country.
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