Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has visited the country's southwest after a deadly train attack by insurgents. He called for national unity to fight terrorism.



An anti-government armed group called the Baloch Liberation Army, or BLA, hijacked a train on Tuesday in Balochistan province. The train was carrying over 400 people.



21 hostages and 4 security forces personnel were confirmed dead after the military mounted a rescue operation.



The prime minister and cabinet members visited the provincial capital Quetta on Thursday. They were briefed on the security situation.



Sharif pledged Pakistan would not allow such an incident to happen again. He said, "Our armed forces will be able to crush these terrorists with full force and valor and as quickly as possible, if we are united."



Balochistan is rich in minerals, and the Pakistani government has been partnering with China to extract natural resources and build seaports.



The BLA opposes the projects and has launched frequent attacks. Last November the group bombed a railway station in Quetta, killing 24 people.