On Tuesday, separatist militants in Pakistan's unrest-plagued Balochistan region hijacked a passenger train that was carrying about 500 passengers. According to the terrorists, who are members of the rebel organisation Baloch Liberation Army, they have taken all of the passengers prisoner and will start executing people if a military operation is conducted in retaliation. 

Local media reported that government officials confirmed an attack on the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express shortly after it departed from Quetta in Balochistan. Efforts are underway to establish contact with the passengers on board. In a statement, the militants claimed they had derailed the train and taken control of it following a fierce shootout. According to their statement, six military personnel were killed in the incident. However, Baloch authorities and railway officials have yet to confirm the number of casualties or provide updates on the hostages' situation. Pakistani security forces have arrived at the scene, and a large-scale counter-operation is in progress, which reportedly includes aerial bombing. However, the militants claim they have successfully pushed back the army's attack.

"Baloch Liberation Army commanders have completely repulsed the ground operation of the occupying army after capturing the Jaffar Express. After fierce clashes, Pakistani ground troops were forced to retreat, however, the bombing by Pakistani helicopters and drones is still ongoing." Railway officials reported that they have not been able to contact the 450 passengers and staff on board the nine-coach train. Initial reports indicate that several travellers were injured in the attack. The Jaffar Express, which was travelling from Quetta in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, came under fire, according to Reuters. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group fighting for the region's autonomy, claimed that the hostages they captured were Pakistani military personnel and members of other security agencies.

"Amongst the hostages are active-duty personnel from the Pakistani military, police, Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)--all of whom were travelling to Punjab on leave," the statement said. "The BLA issues a clear warning that if the occupying forces attempt any military operation, the consequences will be severe. All hundreds of hostages will be executed, and the responsibility for this bloodshed will lie solely with the occupying forces," the militants added. Initially, the militants claimed they had freed women, children, and Baloch passengers, stating that the remaining hostages were all Pakistani military personnel. However, in a later statement, they claimed that all passengers were being held hostage. "The provincial government has imposed emergency measures, and all institutions have been mobilised to deal with the situation," government spokesperson Shahid Rind said.

The attack occurred just days after several Baloch resistance groups, which are pushing for Balochistan's independence from Pakistan, declared a new intensified campaign against both Pakistan and China. These groups have also formed a unified front called the Baloch National Army. Balochistan, which shares borders with Iran and Afghanistan, has faced ongoing insurgency for years and has recently seen a rise in terrorist incidents. In the latest attack on March 5, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in the Khuzdar district claimed five lives and left five others injured.