QUETTA: The death toll from the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express in Balochistan has risen to 16, with armed militants seizing control of the train and taking the passengers captive.
The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) issued a 48-hour deadline to the Pakistani government. The militant group demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners in exchange for the hostages. BLA has claimed responsibility for the attack earlier on Tuesday.
Read more: Jaffar Express: 13 BLA militants killed, 80 hostages recovered
The incident started on Tuesday as the train was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. Reports indicated that approximately 400 passengers are on board.
Initial reports suggest that the assault began when the train was halted in a tunnel at Bolan Pass, where gunmen opened fire. This resulted in the death of the train driver and injuries to several passengers.
Security forces responded quickly, launching a clearance operation to recuse those held captive. As of the latest update, security sources reported that 104 hostages, including 58 men, 31 women and 15 children has been successfully rescued.
The ongoing hostage crisis has seen security forces engage in intense exchanges of fire to evade capture. Security officials confirmed that 16 terrorists have been killed, with additional reinforcements deployed to the area to assist in the operation.
Seventeen injured passengers have been transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Meanwhile, ambulances have been dispatched to the affected area.
However, rapports indicate difficulties in reaching the victims due to the challenging terrain.
The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from government officials, including President Zardari and Prime Minsiter Shehbaz Sharif.
Zardari described the attack as inhuman and condemned the targeting of innocent civilians, while the prime minister stated that the government was committed to eradicating terrorism.
Authorities have urged the public to rely on credible sources for information only. There have been reports of disinformation being spread on social media, particularly from accounts linked to allegedly Indian media and terrorist groups.
Read more: Who is the BLA behind Jaffar Express hijacking?
The situation remains fluid, with the security forces continuing their efforts to neutralise the remaining militants and ensure the safety of all passengers.