Pakistan Army Rescues Over 300 Hostages from Train Siege**

The Pakistan Army has freed more than 300 hostages from a passenger train hijacked by militants in Balochistan. The operation resulted in the deaths of 33 attackers, while some hostages tragically lost their lives prior to the rescue. Security forces are still working to locate any remaining passengers.**

Pakistan's military has reportedly liberated over 300 hostages from a passenger train hijacked by militants in Balochistan province on Tuesday. According to military representatives, during the course of the operation, which was executed in response to the hostage crisis, 33 militants were killed. Tragically, prior to the commencement of the military intervention, 21 civilian hostages and four soldiers lost their lives at the hands of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a figure the BBC has yet to independently verify.

Continuing their operations, the military is conducting thorough searches across the area to ensure no further threats remain. The passenger train was carrying about 440 individuals when it was assaulted, as stated by the military spokesperson. Some security officials suspect that some of the militants might have escaped, taking an unspecified number of passengers into the rugged, mountainous terrain surrounding the incident site. The military is focused on tracing any passengers who may have eluded capture during the attack.

The BLA, designated as a terrorist group by the Pakistani government and several Western nations, is part of a coalition calling for increased autonomy or even independence for Balochistan. They allege that the central government has exploited the province's abundant mineral resources while overlooking its development needs. In the past, the group has been responsible for targeting military installations, railway stations, and trains, marking this hijacking as a notable escalation in their tactics.

Among the passengers were at least 100 members of the security forces. The militants had issued threats to execute the hostages unless authorities released detained Baloch political prisoners within a tight 48-hour window. Eyewitness accounts depicted harrowing scenes aboard the train, with passengers like Ishaq Noor describing the atmosphere as one of sheer panic and uncertainty.

Communication with those aboard the train during the assault proved difficult due to the remote location, characterized by a lack of internet and mobile service. Some individuals managed to escape the train later on Tuesday, trekking nearly four hours to reach a railway station. One such passenger, Muhammad Ashraf, recounted the exhausting journey undertaken with children and women alongside him.

In response to the unfolding crisis, the military deployed helicopters and hundreds of troops, managing to free over 100 hostages by Wednesday morning. The protracted hijacking lasted for more than 30 hours, and authorities have maintained strict control over the information regarding the assault and subsequent rescue. A military representative assured that all those involved in the attack would face justice.