Separatists with The Army of Liberation of Belżistan (BLA) They carried out a brutal attack on a passenger train in the southwestern Pakistan. Fighters on Tuesday they blew up a fragment of the tracks and opened fire to the moving composition. The train, in which there were over 400 passengers, was immobilized in the tunnel, and his driver died from the wounds.
Kidnapping of the train in Pakistan. Hostages and ultimatum of fighters
Attackers took control of the train, taking 214 people on hostagesincluding military and security forces officers. Terrorists demanded releasing Belżysky political prisoners and activistswho – as they claim – were abducted by the order of the authorities Pakistanu. Fighters They gave the government 48 hours to meet the demandsthreatening that otherwise they will start killing hostages.
Separatists on Wednesday announced that they enforced 50 people. At the same time, they announced that if Pakistani special forces do not withdraw, more hostages were killed. The situation is complicated by the fact that Fighters are armed with explosivesand some of them are among the hostages, which makes it difficult to carry out a rescue operation.
Rescue operation in the mountains and the reaction of the Pakistani authorities
Pakistani special forces They conduct intensive activities to reflect hostages. Helicopters and troops were sent to the operation, which surrounded the area where the train is detained. Yet 190 people were savedbut the fights are still ongoing. According to military sources At least 16 terrorists were killed.
Premier Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attackemphasizing that the authorities will not bend under the threats of terrorists. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi thanked the security forces for saving some passengers and announced decisive actions against separatists. The authorities of the Belżistan province announced a state of emergencyand Pakistan Railways railway lines They suspended train courses on routes leading to the region until the situation is controlled.
Who are the fighters behind the attack?
Blah it The largest separatist group in the Belżistan regionfor years fighting for the independence of this rich province. The organization accuses the Pakistan government of the exploitation of natural resources without the benefits of the local population. In recent years, the fighters have significantly intensified the attackshitting government facilities and Chinese investments in the region.