Quetta: The international community is maintaining close watch on the situation in Balochistan, Pakistan, even as operations continue to rescue over 200 train passengers still being held hostage by members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
The Jaffar Express from Quetta to Peshawar was hijacked on Tuesday evening by the BLA inside the Mashkaf tunnel near Gudalar and Piru Kunri in the Balochistan province. The train was then carrying about 425 passengers, some of whom were later freed by the rebels.
The rebels have given a 48 hour deadline to the Pakistani government, demanding the release of their comrades from prison, failing which they will start assassinating the hostages. There are several soldiers among those being held captive and it is their lives that are at greater risk.
Security forces claim to have killed at least 27 rebels and rescued 155 passengers, including women and children, in operations carried out overnight.
The BLA has denied that it’s members were killed though. The outfit has claimed that it killed 30 Pakistani soldiers and even brought down a drone being used by the security forces. This has not been confirmed by the government.
This is mountainous terrain. There are media reports that some hostages have been moved to hideouts in the mountains, but the security forces claimed that they have blocked both ends of the tunnel and none of the rebels have been able to escape.
Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and president Asif Ali Zardari have condemned the attack on the train. Zardari has said that such an attack goes against the traditions of Balochistan.
Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi has adopted a hard line and said: “Beasts who fire on innocent passengers deserve no concessions.”
