They kidnap a train with 400 passengers and a hostage crisis is unleashed in Pakistan

The Jaffar Express, which connects the cities of Quetta (Baluchistan) and Peshawar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), was attacked by the local insurgent group Baluchistan Liberation Army (Bla) In the district of Bolar.

The insurgents stopped the train in a tunnel, seized the machinery and took hundreds of hostages, including safety troops.

The area that does not have telephone coverage or Internet service is a blind spot for railway authorities and security forces.

Military sources informed Efe that 155 people have been rescued and 27 insurgents dejected, While Bla denies low and claims to have killed 30 military.

The Bla affirmed in his last statement having freed women, children and citizens Baluchisand that retained 214 people until Tuesday night, mostly security officers.

The Bla initially warned that he would execute the hostages if the security forces intervened, and then gave a 48 -hour ultimatum to release “political prisoners Baluchis, missing and activists of the national resistance.”

Baluchistan, rich in natural resources, It is the largest but less populated province of Pakistan.

Balucho insurgency accuses Islamabad of exploit resources with the help of China, without benefiting the region.

Groups like Bla They seek autonomy or independenceand instability in Baluchistan affects regional security and trade in Central and South Asia.

The tense confrontation after the kidnapping of the train has extended more than 24 hours, with contradictory reports between the security forces and the attackers who blur the panorama on the number of hostages and the victims, while the operation extends for the second consecutive day.

Baluchi Liberation Army said in its last statement that You have more than 200 people arrested and threatened with judgments in a “Baluchi National Court” if their demands of Exchange of prisoners in the next 24 hours.

The main demand of the insurgents Baluchis is the exchange of passengers, Many of them military and security officers who were traveling on the train, By prisoners Baluchis. To do this, a period of 48 hours had issued on Tuesday to the Pakistani forces.

“Only 24 hours have. If Pakistan does not achieve practical advances in the exchange of prisoners within the ultimatumall hostages will be presented to the National Baluchi Court“The Bla spokesman Jeeyand Baloch said in a statement.

These military, considered by the Baluchis separatists as An occupation force“will Courted for state atrocities, Colonial occupation, genocide, exploitation and participation in war crimes In Baluchistan, “he added.

However, official sources indicated to Efe that The operation was “in its final phase”, affirming the rescue of a significant part of the hostages.

“190 passengers have been rescued. During the clearing operation, extreme caution and skill was demonstrated, saving innocent lives. However, The number of passengers who died is already determining victims of the brutality of terrorists. All terrorists present in the place have been dejected, “said the source.

Nor is there an official count of the total dead or injured in this attack. However, military sources say that at least 27 insurgents have been dejected, while the blade said that 50 military were executed.