Gunmen hijack train in Pakistan’s Balochistan, take hundreds hostage

.

Separatist fighters say they have attacked and seized a train in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, taking hundreds of people hostage.

Railway sources confirmed to Al Jazeera that more than 400 passengers were on board the nine coaches of the Jaffar Express when it was attacked on mar 11 while travelling from the provincial capital of Quetta to the northern city of Peshawar.

Provincial spokesperson Shahid Rind said an emergency had been declared at a major hospital in Sibi city, 160km (100 miles) southeast of Quetta, after reports of “intense firing” at the train.

The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) separatist group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that six military personnel had been killed. It added that security personnel were among those taken hostage and warned of retaliation if security forces carried out an operation.

There was no immediate comment by Pakistan’s military.

The 1,600km (994-mile) train journey from Quetta to Peshawar takes more than 30 hours to complete with more than 30 stops along the way.