Pakistani security forces, in a bold operation, have freed 190 hostages from a hijacked train in the northwest Balochistan province, also attempting to free dozens more, officials said on Wednesday.
The Jaffar Express with over 400 passengers, including 214 security personnel, was ambushed on Tuesday while it was ferrying from Quetta to Peshawar. Militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) blew up a part of the railway track in a mountainous region, fired at the locals and killed 11 people, amongst them eight paramilitary forces and the train driver.
Toughly-armed bandits, clothed in explosives belts broke law enforcers from the people, dragging big amount of people to mountains. To date, 27 militants killed in firefight. Bla which seems independence of balochistanollect claimed being a responsibility, to release baloch political prisoners within 48 hours, if ignored to execute hostages. 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced the “dastardly attack” saying that fight against terrorism would continue. “Innocent passengers being targeted in Ramazan by certain terrorists speak of these terrorists having no association with Islam and Pakistan,” he added.
Eighty hostages, among them 43 men, 26 women and 11 children, were released late Tuesday and reached a railway station in Mach district safely. Security remains on high alert in the area as rescuers continue with careful attention as they proceed with the rescue operation due to the delicate situation.
Jaffar Express remains stuck in the tunnel amidst security forces as the strained situation continues.
