Pakistan train hijack: Siege over with 30 insurgents, 28 soldiers killed, hostages freed
PTC News Desk: After a day long military operation, all the separatist militants of Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have been killed and all the hostages have been released, the Pakistan Army said on Wednesday.
Twenty-one passengers and four paramilitary soldiers were killed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) while the security forces eliminated all 33 insurgents present at the scene.
"The armed forces successfully concluded the operation in the (Wednesday) evening by killing all terrorists and rescuing all passengers safely," Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif said.
The Army released a statement shortly after BLA militants claimed that they have killed 60 hostages and threatened to execute more captives if the army doesn't cease military operation. Earlier on Tuesday, the Jaffar Express carrying around 400 passengers was blewed and derailed and passengers were taken hostage the BLA in mountainous terrain, about 160 km from Quetta, while the train was en route to Peshawar.
A multi-pronged assault, including an aerial offensive, was launched against the insurgents following the train attack.
The Chief Minister of Balochistan province, Sarfraz Bugti, informed the provincial assembly that "we people have also been martyred, but we will share details later".
- PTC NEWS
