Quetta: The separatist organization Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which hijacked a train in Balochistan, Pakistan, has claimed to have killed all 214 hostages. In a statement issued on Friday, BLA rebels said that all the 214 hostages killed were Pakistani army personnel. On Tuesday, Baloch rebels hijacked the Jaffar Express train going from Quetta to Peshawar near Bolan Pass in Balochistan. More than 450 people were present in the train, but BLA let the elderly, women and children go.
Pakistani army claimed to have freed everyone
BLA claimed to be in possession of 214 Pakistani military hostages. The Pakistani army announced the end of the hostage crisis on Wednesday night, saying it had killed all 33 BLA fighters in the operation. The Pakistani army said it had freed all the hostages. However, the Pakistani army did not release any video or photos about the release of the hostages or the damage caused to the BLA.
BLA exposed the lies of the Pakistani army
The very next day, BLA issued a statement calling the claims of the Pakistani army false and said that the hostages were still in their custody. The group also said that the Pakistani army had left its soldiers to die. The group accused the Pakistani state of ignoring its demands and refusing to engage in serious negotiations for the release of the hostages. The BLA had given a 48-hour ultimatum to the Pakistani army to negotiate for the exchange of prisoners.
Big defeat of Pakistani army
BLA spokesman Jiand Baloch said in a statement issued on Friday that Pakistan failed to accept the situation on the ground and chose old stubbornness and military arrogance instead of meaningful dialogue. Baloch said that 'as a result of this stubbornness, a total of 214 hostages have been killed.' The group has described it as a major defeat of the Pakistani army. The BLA has also paid tribute to its 12 fighters killed in the battle, including 5 suicide bombers of the Majeed Brigade. It was reported that the battle went on for several hours near the Bolan Pass.
Refutation of Pakistani army's claims
Baloch criticized the Pakistan Army for showing the bodies of BLA fighters as a success. He said that their mission was never to return alive, but to fight till the last bullet. He refuted Pakistan Army's claims of rescuing the hostages and said those being shown as rescued were in fact released by the BLA on the first day itself and given 'safe passage under the rules of war'.
