BLA Claims Execution Of 214 Jaffar Express Hostages, Vows Continued Attacks
The Balochistan Liberation Army accused Pakistan of prioritising “stubbornness and military arrogance” over negotiation, leading to the deaths of the hostages
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claims to have executed 214 hostages aboard the Jaffar Express after the Pakistani army disregarded a 48-hour ultimatum to exchange prisoners of war.
The BLA — which bombed a remote railway track in mountainous southwest Balochistan and stormed a train with around 450 passengers on board — accused Pakistan of prioritising “stubbornness and military arrogance" over negotiation, leading to the deaths of the hostages.
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The group also “honoured" 12 of its fighters who died in the clashes, including three killed on Wednesday night and four on Thursday. They also “recognised the sacrifices" of five fighters from the Majeed Brigade, a BLA wing known for suicide attacks.
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The outfit also described a previous operation titled ‘Darra-e-Bolan’ where they claim to have ambushed and captured Pakistani military personnel. They allege that Pakistani SSG commandos attempted and failed to rescue the hostages, resulting in significant casualties. After a prolonged battle, the remaining hostages were reportedly executed.
Furthermore, the BLA refuted the Pakistani army’s claims of a successful hostage rescue from Jaffar Express, asserting that the hostages were released on the first day under “rules of war". They deemed Pakistan’s military operation a failure despite its “military and intelligence superiority".
The BLA emphasised that the battle was ongoing, with their fighters continuing to target Pakistani forces through ambushes. This follows earlier reports by CNN-News18 detailing how hostages were taken to various locations immediately after the attack.
In a statement earlier, the Baloch rebels said the Pakistani army is hiding the real number of casualties in a bid to not hurt the morale of the forces and urged international media to probe instead of reporting the narrative peddled by the Pakistani state and media.
HOW THE ATTACK UNFOLDED
On March 11, 2025, the Jaffar Express was targeted in the Mushqaf area of Bolan district, Balochistan province, a region with 17 tunnels that provide natural barriers. The attackers detonated explosives at Tunnel Number 8, causing the train to derail and trapping it inside. This strategic move allowed them to take control of over 400 passengers, including military personnel, who were their primary targets for high-value hostages.
Following the derailment, the militants opened fire, engaging security forces onboard while securing their hold over the train. Pakistani intelligence sources reveal that BLA’s success in this hijacking came from precise timing, local knowledge, and prior experience in targeting the same train.
The bodies of at least 25 people, including 21 hostages, were retrieved from the train hijack site.
The Pakistani army claims that it freed more than 340 train passengers in a two-day rescue operation that ended late on Wednesday. It also said that 28 soldiers died, including 27 off-duty soldiers.
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