Baloch separatists in Pakistan launched a surprise attack on Tuesday, hijacking a train carrying hundreds of passengers, drawing into focus the sharply deteriorating security situation in the South Asian country.

Pakistani authorities on Wednesday said the insurgent attack had ended, with more than 50 attackers killed following a daylong standoff.

It remains unclear how many hostages were rescued alive.

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the largest militant group in the region, claimed responsibility for the attack. A spokesman for the group had earlier said they were ready to free passengers if authorities agreed to release jailed militants.

The train was traveling from Quetta to the northern city of Peshawar when it was attacked.

Elizabeth Threlkeld, director of the South Asia program at Washington-based Stimson Center, said it's alarming to see the BLA pull off such a large-scale attack targeting civilians.

"This is a hugely significant attack and one that will have lasting consequences for Pakistan's security," she told DW.

"The fact that the group was able to mount an attack of this nature and scale suggests the immense intelligence and security challenges that exist in Balochistan," the expert added.

Qamar Cheema, executive director of the Islamabad-based security think tank Sanober Institute, echoed this view.........

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