QUETTA, Pakistan — Pakistan Railways has temporarily suspended all train services to and from Balochistan after a deadly attack on a passenger train that left several dead, injured others, and led to hostage-taking, officials said Wednesday.
The attack occurred on Tuesday as a train traveling from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, to Peshawar came under fire. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic separatist group, claimed responsibility for the assault.
The BLA said it had taken 214 hostages, though the number has not been independently verified. A security source told Reuters that 425 passengers were on board when the attack occurred.
Pakistani forces have so far rescued 155 passengers, and authorities said an operation remains underway to free those still held captive. The government has not provided an exact figure on how many remain in captivity.
By Wednesday morning, Quetta’s railway station was largely deserted as train operations remained suspended, highlighting the ongoing security concerns in the region.
