"Abominable act"

190 hostages freed from ambushed train

(Bild: AP ( via APA) Austria Presse Agentur)

After an attack on a train in Pakistan's troubled province of Balochistan, the hostage-taking has ended, according to the military. All the attackers were killed, it was reported on Wednesday. 27 passengers are dead.

Around 100 gunmen had attacked a train carrying around 425 passengers on Tuesday. The separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack and threatened to kill hostages.

Numerous empty coffins were delivered to the place where the attack on the train took place.

(Bild: -)

The kidnappers demanded the release of prisoners and activists within 48 hours. The BLA fighters were equipped with explosive devices, so-called suicide jackets, said several people familiar with the events. The train was on its way from the city of Quetta to the city of Peshawar in the northwest of the country. The majority of the passengers were army personnel or members of their families, they said. The hostages killed were also soldiers.

Initially 190 passengers freed
According to the military, a total of 190 passengers had already been freed, but many remained in the hands of the attackers. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the whole country was "deeply shocked by this heinous act". The United Nations also condemned the act and demanded the release of the hostages. Attacks on civilians are unacceptable, said a spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres in a statement.

Balochistan is located in south-western Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan and Iran and is the poorest province in the country. Separatist groups have been fighting against the government in Balochistan for decades. They are demanding independence for the resource-rich province as well as a share of the gas and mineral deposits.

The BLA is the most active armed separatist movement. In recent years, the militia has stepped up its attacks on security forces and residents of neighboring provinces. Islamist groups such as the Pakistani Taliban are also active there. According to experts, more than 1,600 people were killed in attacks in Pakistan in 2024.