Armed insurgents in Pakistan's Balochistan region have freed 190 people who were held hostage by an attack on a train. In that process, 27 rebels and 30 security personnel were killed. According to Pakistani media, 37 passengers were injured during the rescue.

According to the Pakistan Railways official, there were more than 400 passengers in the train with 9 coaches. Train services in the area have been suspended following the attack. Insurgent group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on Tuesday attacked the Jafar Express train from Quetta to Peshawar and took passengers hostage. The security personnel said that many passengers are still under the control of BLA.

  According to the Quetta-based railway official, on Tuesday, 80 passengers including 11 children and 26 women got off the train and reached another nearby station. The residents of Balochistan in that group have returned home. Immediately after the attack, the BLA said that 214 of the 425 passengers on the train were taken hostage.

According to a military official, the train was carrying more than a hundred army personnel who boarded from Quetta. According to the official, communication is difficult due to lack of internet and mobile network in the area where the train was attacked.

The separatist group has said in a statement that it detonated a bomb on a railway track in remote Sibi district before attacking the train. The BLA also warned of severe consequences if they tried to rescue those they had captured. The attackers demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners within 48 hours. They even threatened to kill the hostages if their demands were not met.

The BLA has been waging an insurgency for the independence of Balochistan for decades. During that time, BLA has been targeting police stations, railways and highways. Last August, they opened fire on a highway in Balochistan province after pulling people out of buses and trucks while checking IDs.

At least 39 people died in the incident. The BLA claimed to have targeted the soldiers who traveled in the guise of civilians. In recent years, the BLA has intensified its attacks. In particular, it has started targeting Chinese citizens working in projects in Balochistan. BLA has been declared a terrorist organization by Pakistan as well as many western countries including Britain and the US.

Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) BLA has been targeting gas projects, infrastructure and security posts in Balochistan. Since 2011, this group has been attacking Pakistani security agencies, foreign workers, government officials and journalists. Founded in 1964 in Damascus, Syria, the BLF was initially involved in the Iranian Baloch rebellion.

Iranian Baloch revolted against the government there. After five years of conflict, the rebellion ended through negotiations. After that BLF along with other Baloch organizations also started activities against Pakistan government. Since the 1970s, these organizations have been active in Afghanistan.

Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan. The province is bordered by the Arabian Sea coast along with Iran and Afghanistan. Many Baloch are also living in the neighboring provinces of Iran and Afghanistan. Despite being the richest in terms of natural resources, this province is the least developed.