Militants attack train in Pakistan, take over a hundred hostages

The targeted attack of a passenger train by militants of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) at Mashkaf, Dhadar, Bolan, has now become a standoff between the security forces and the militants, who have taken over a hundred passengers as hostages.

- AGENCIES

While the BLA claims that it has taken at least 100 Pakistani military officials and personnel hostage after derailing the Jaffar Express, Pakistani authorities said that the passenger train was carrying civilians and families, including women and children, who it says are under the custody of BLA militants after stopping the train in a tunnel.

The Jaffar Express train was on its way from Quetta in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it came under attack.

The BLA, in a statement, claimed to have killed 20 military personnel.