Baloch separatists attacked a train in Pakistan's Balochistan region, taking hostages and killing several passengers. Pakistani forces launched an overnight operation, killing the militants and rescuing around 190 hostages. The BLA, which claimed responsibility, seeks independence for the resource-rich region.

Several hostages on a train in southwestern Pakistan were killed, officials confirmed on Wednesday, a day after insurgents launched an attack on the train in the conflict-ridden Balochistan region.

Approximately 450 passengers were aboard the Jaffar Express when it was ambushed by Baloch separatists on Tuesday in a remote frontier province. Pakistani security forces responded overnight in an attempt to regain control of the situation.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti acknowledged the casualties, stating, "People have also been martyred, but we will share details later."

Authorities later confirmed that the attack had ended, with all the gunmen neutralized. However, several passengers who had been taken hostage were also killed.

"Our operation has entered its final phase. All the militants have been killed, and commandos are now advancing to enter the rail cars," a Pakistani official told Germany's DPA news agency under the condition of anonymity.

"We don't yet know how many passengers have been killed. We still have to count the bodies," the official added.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the attack, stated that it had executed around 50 hostages.

Overnight, Pakistani security forces successfully freed around 190 hostages.

The attack began on Tuesday when approximately 100 gunmen sabotaged a section of railway track and then opened fire on the Jaffar Express as it traveled from Quetta, the provincial capital, to Peshawar.

Among the roughly 450 passengers on board were civilians as well as a significant number of security personnel.

The BLA militants took all passengers hostage, threatening to execute them unless the Pakistani government agreed to release imprisoned members of their separatist movement.

However, the government refused to negotiate with the attackers and instead launched an extensive overnight military operation to rescue the hostages.

Some of those who managed to escape recounted a harrowing experience, describing long treks through treacherous mountainous terrain to reach safety.

"I can't find the words to describe how we managed to escape. It was terrifying," one of the survivors told the AFP news agency.

For over two decades, the BLA has carried out attacks targeting civilians, Pakistani security forces, and Chinese business interests in Balochistan. The group frequently targets trains as part of its insurgency.

The militant organization seeks independence for Balochistan, a mineral-rich region in southwestern Pakistan.

The BLA claims that both the Pakistani government and China exploit the region’s vast natural resources, while the local Baloch population receives little to no benefit.

China has heavily invested in Balochistan, funding infrastructure projects such as ports, railways, and highways as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.

A similar insurgency has also carried out attacks in the Balochistan region of neighboring Iran.