Baloch Militants Deny Pakistan Army’s Claim of Ending Train Hijack Standoff

The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Thursday refuted Pakistan’s claim that military forces had neutralized all insurgents involvedin the Jaffar Express train hijacking, asserting that clashes were ongoing.

The Pakistani military had announced on Wednesday that all 33 Baloch insurgents, who seized the passenger train carrying over 400 people, were killed in a rescue operation. However, the BLA dismissed this statement, accusing the army of fabricating its victory.

“The ground reality is that the battle continues on multiple fronts, and the enemy is suffering heavy casualties and military losses,” the BLA stated. The group further claimed that the individuals the Pakistani army claimed to have “rescued” were actually released voluntarily in line with its war ethics and international norms.

Pakistan Army spokesperson Lt. Gen. Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry had earlier declared that the operation was completed successfully, with all passengers freed and four army personnel killed during the rescue mission. However, the BLA insisted that Pakistani forces had neither secured a battlefield victory nor managed to rescue their hostage personnel.

The attack took place on Tuesday when Baloch insurgents opened fire on the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express as it passed through a tunnel in Balochistan, forcing it to stop. The incident marks a significant escalation in the Baloch separatist movement, which has long fought for independence from Pakistan.