The attack was immediately claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which is fighting for independence and accuses outsiders of profiting from the region’s wealth.
In a statement, the BLA said they had killed 20 Pakistani Army personnel, shot down a military drone, and were holding 182 people hostage, Reuters reported.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio has strongly condemned the hijacking of the train in and voiced concern about persons taken hostage, calling for their immediate release, stressing that attacks against civilians are unacceptable.