Six dead, over 100 taken hostage as armed men attack train in Pakistan’s Balochistan. Pakistan-based militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack. A cleansing operation to take out the attackers and rescue the hostages from militant custody is underway. The attack was carried out on Jaffar Express passenger train when it was crossing from Ab-e-Ghum area of Mach Town in the Kachhi district (formerly named Bolan District) of Balochistani province. The latest attack is by far one of the biggest conducted by BLA in recent times. The BLA claims of taking 100 hostages, majority of them security personnel, have not been confirmed or verified by the security forces till now. Sources further indicated that explosives may have been used to damage the railway tracks before the firing began, and the driver was among those seriously injured. The gunmen have reportedly continued to fire sporadically, with ongoing efforts to free the hostages and secure the passengers. The authorities have reportedly surrounded the area around Mach mountains, which is known for its difficult terrain.