Pakistan train siege ends; 25 bodies recovered in Balochistan

In Pakistan's Balochistan province, at least 25 bodies, including 21 hostages, were recovered following a deadly train siege by separatist militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). The attack involved a bombing of a railway track and a subsequent assault on a train carrying approximately 450 passengers, which ended with security forces rescuing over 340 individuals after a two-day operation. Reports indicate that 21 hostages were killed along with four soldiers during the rescue, although military figures have varied. Eyewitness accounts describe harrowing scenes of passengers being shot as they were forced out of the train. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences and is expected to visit the region as preparations for the first funerals begin. The BLA, which seeks greater autonomy for Balochistan, released a video of the attack, highlighting the ongoing tensions in the area over resource exploitation and separatist violence.