New Delhi: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has taken control of a train in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, holding hundreds of passengers hostage.

The incident occurred when the Jaffar Express, travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, was fired upon by BLA fighters, who then boarded the train after blowing up the railway tracks.

The BLA has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that six military personnel were killed during the operation.

They warned that the hostages would be killed if Pakistani forces launched a rescue operation.

Following the incident, the government imposed emergency measures and mobilized all institutions to deal with the situation.

It may be mentioned that the BLA is one of several ethnic insurgent groups that have been battling the Pakistani government for decades, demanding a share in the region's rich mineral resources.

Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area, but it is also the least populated.

The region is home to significant mineral resources, including gas and minerals, which has led to tensions between the provincial government and the central government.

The BLA is one of the separatist groups operating in the region and has been responsible for several attacks against Pakistani security forces and Chinese interests in the past.