The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) asserts that it has carried out the execution of 214 captives on the Jaffar Express after the Pakistani military ignored a 48-hour deadline for a prisoner exchange.
The BLA — which targeted a remote railway line in the mountainous region of southwest Balochistan and attacked a train carrying about 450 passengers — blamed Pakistan for choosing “stubbornness and military arrogance” instead of dialogue, resulting in the hostages’ deaths.
The group likewise “commemorated” 12 of its fighters who lost their lives in the clashes, including three who were killed on Wednesday night and four on Thursday. They also “acknowledged the sacrifices” of five combatants from the Majeed Brigade, a BLA faction recognized for its suicide attacks.
The group also reported on an earlier operation named ‘Darra-e-Bolan,’ in which they allege to have ambushed and taken Pakistani military personnel captive.
They claim that Pakistani SSG commandos tried and failed to save the hostages, leading to considerable losses. Following an extended conflict, the surviving captives were allegedly executed.
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Additionally, the BLA denied the Pakistani army’s assertions of a successful hostage rescue from the Jaffar Express, claiming that the hostages were freed on the first day in accordance with “rules of war.” They considered Pakistan’s military operation unsuccessful despite its “military and intelligence superiority.”
The BLA highlighted that the conflict was still in progress, with their combatants persistently attacking Pakistani troops via ambushes. This comes after previous reports from CNN-News18 outlining how hostages were moved to different places right after the assault.
In a previous statement, the Baloch rebels claimed that the Pakistani army is concealing the actual casualty figures to maintain the morale of the troops and called on international media to investigate rather than convey the narrative promoted by the Pakistani government and media.
