The Pakistani military announced the successful conclusion of an operation to rescue hostages taken by separatist militants on a train in Balochistan, following a 24-hour standoff that resulted in numerous casualties.

According to military spokesperson Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, all 33 militants were killed during the operation, while 21 hostages lost their lives prior to the commencement of the rescue effort.

The Jaffar Express train, which was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was reportedly attacked by the militants who had earlier detonated a railway line and fired rockets at the train.

The military stated that they managed to rescue a significant number of individuals, including women and children, from the train during the operation, which was characterized as conducted with extreme caution.

Chaudhry emphasized that no civilians were killed during the military assault itself.

Accusations have been directed at the Baloch Liberation Army for orchestrating the attack, as this group is recognized as the largest faction among those fighting the Pakistani government in the resource-rich Balochistan province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.

As the military operation unfolded, the Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the incident, stating they had killed 50 people in the attack.

The group's demands center around the independence of Balochistan from Pakistan, alongside calls for the release of political prisoners and missing persons, which they allege have been abducted by security forces.

The event underscores the ongoing tensions within the region and the complex dynamics of separatist movements in Pakistan.