'Jaffar express hijack': Baloch rebels claim they killed '214 army hostages' due to Pakistan's 'stubbornness'

Rejecting the Pakistani army’s claim, the Baloch separatists who hijacked a Pakistani passenger train claimed to have killed all 214 military hostages after their 48-hour deadline to exchange them for Baloch political prisoners expired on Friday.

The Baloch Liberation Army said the government’s “stubbornness” in not heeding its ultimatum forced their hand.

“The Baloch Liberation Army had given the Pakistani army a 48-hour ultimatum to exchange prisoners of war, which was the last chance for the occupying army to save the lives of its personnel. However, Pakistan, displaying its traditional stubbornness and military arrogance, not only avoided serious negotiations but also turned a blind eye to the ground realities. As a result of this stubbornness, all 214 hostages have been executed,” the statement claimed.

The rebel group claimed they had always followed international law, but Pakistan’s refusal to negotiate forced them to act.

“The BLA has always followed the rules of war and international law, but Pakistan chose to sacrifice its personnel instead of saving them. As a result, 214 personnel were executed,” the statement said.

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Pakistan Train Hijack: Baloch separatists hold 214 hostage, claim 30 security personnel killed The Majeed Brigade: The BLA’s suicide squad that carried out the deadly train hijacking

Militants hijacked the Jaffar Express in a remote mountain pass in Balochistan, blowing up the tracks and taking passengers hostage in a tense standoff.

Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said soldiers killed 33 insurgents, rescued 354 hostages, and ended the siege. He also stated that there was no evidence of the BLA taking additional hostages.

The final death toll included 23 soldiers, three railway employees, and five passengers, higher than the earlier estimate of 25 casualties.

The separatist group released a statement in response to the army, saying it had killed all the hostages in its custody. Pakistani officials have accused the group of making exaggerated claims in the past.

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BLA in Pakistan

The BLA is the biggest and most powerful Baloch insurgent group, fighting for decades to gain independence for Balochistan. The province is rich in minerals and hosts major China-led projects, including a port and gold and copper mines.

Pakistan’s long negligence in Balochistan

Though the state accounts for 44 per cent of the country’s geographical area, the region is the most underdeveloped and poverty-stricken. The Baloch have alleged that its resources are driving development in the rich states of Punjab and Sindh, while Islamabad is neglecting Balochistan’s development.