The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffer Express train in Pakistan’s Balochistan on Tuesday, taking over 100 passengers hostage while demanding independence for Balochistan. The group also claimed that six Pakistani military personnel were killed during the incident.

The train, carrying over 400 passengers across nine coaches, was traveling from Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when gunfire erupted. The BLA warned that if Pakistani forces launched an operation, they would execute the hostages. They also destroyed railway tracks to stop the train before boarding and taking control of the passengers.

Security forces arrived at the scene in the Bolan district’s Mushkaf area, and the Balochistan government declared an emergency. The BLA has been fighting for Balochistan’s independence for decades, alleging that Pakistan illegally occupies the region and exploits its resources, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Gwadar Port.