INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Armed militants in Pakistans Balochistan area have attacked a train bring more than 400 guests and taken a number of them captive, military
sources informed the BBC on Tuesday.The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) fired at the Jaffar Express Train as it travelled from Quetta to
Peshawar.The separatist group said it had bombed the track before storming the train in the remote Sibi district, claiming the train was
under its control.At least 16 militants have been eliminated and 104 travelers rescued since Wednesday early morning, local media
reported.Among those saved are 17 hurt travelers, who have actually been hospitalised for treatment.The militants had actually threatened to
kill captives if authorities did not release Baloch political detainees within 48 hours, according to regional reports.The rescue operation
is ongoing.There were reports of intense shooting at the train, a Balochistan government spokesman told local newspaper Dawn on Tuesday.A
senior authorities stated it stays stuck right before a tunnel surrounded by mountains, AFP news agency reports.A senior army official
verified to the BBC that there were more than 100 army personnel travelling from Quetta on the train.The Pakistani authorities - in addition
to a number of Western countries, including the UK and United States - have designated the BLA as a terrorist organisation.It has waged a
decades-long insurgency to acquire self-reliance and has actually introduced numerous deadly attacks, often targeting police stations, train
lines and highways.On Tuesday, the group alerted of extreme consequences if an effort was made to rescue those it is holding.I cant find the
words to explain how we handled to escape
It was frightening, Muhammad Bilal, one of the freed hostages, told AFP news agency.Allahditta, another passenger, stated he was enabled to
go because of his heart condition
The 49-year-old remembered how individuals started concealing under the seats in panic when the aggressors stormed the train.A regional
railway authorities in Quetta earlier informed the BBC that a group of 80 guests - 11 kids, 26 women and 43 guys - had handled to disembark
the train and stroll to the nearby railway station, Panir.The authorities said the group was made up of residents from the province of
Balochistan.One man, whose brother-in-law was still being hung on the train, explained an agonising wait
He said he had attempted to drive to the location, however a lot of the roadways were closed.Meanwhile, distressed families of guests were
trying to get details about their liked ones from the counter at Quetta railway station.The child of one traveler, Muhammad Ashraf, who left
Quetta for Lahore on Tuesday morning, told BBC Urdu he had actually not been able to contact his father.Another relative stated he was
frantic with stress over his cousin and her small child, who were travelling from Quetta to Multan to pick up a household member.No one is
informing me whats happening or if theyre safe, Imran Khan told Reuters news agency.Officials say they are yet to communicate with anyone on
the train.The location has no internet and mobile network protection, authorities told the BBC.Balochistan is Pakistans biggest province and
the richest in regards to natural deposits, however it is the least developed.Source: BBC-- Agencies
