The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for executing all 214 military hostages from the hijacked Jaffar Express after the Pakistani government refused to meet their 48-hour ultimatum to release Baloch political prisoners and activists. The BLA, a separatist group fighting for Balochistan’s independence from Pakistan, accused the government of displaying "traditional stubbornness and military arrogance" by avoiding serious negotiations, which they said left them with no choice but to carry out the executions.
The crisis unfolded on Tuesday when BLA militants targeted the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express, detonating explosives on the railway tracks before storming the train. The train was carrying over 400 passengers, many of whom were security personnel traveling from Quetta. The attackers swiftly separated civilians from the military personnel and railway staff, holding the soldiers hostage in a tense standoff that lasted for days. The BLA demanded the immediate release of several high-profile Baloch political prisoners and missing activists, whom they allege were forcibly abducted by Pakistani intelligence agencies.
By Wednesday, Pakistan’s military launched an extensive operation to end the siege, claiming victory after a 30-hour-long firefight. According to the military’s statement, all 33 insurgents were killed, and the remaining passengers were freed, though 23 soldiers, three railway employees, and five civilians lost their lives in the exchange. The Pakistani army declared the mission a success, portraying it as a decisive blow against the rebels.
The BLA, however, fiercely rejected this version of events. In a statement released Friday, the group insisted the operation was ongoing and that Pakistani forces suffered "unprecedented losses." The insurgents claimed they split the hostages into groups, with some soldiers confined to sealed train carriages while others were taken to a "secure location" deep within Balochistan’s mountainous terrain. They described their fighters — referred to as "Fidayeen" — mounting a final, desperate counterattack against Pakistani commandos when they attempted to breach their stronghold.
The BLA alleged that during this intense firefight, many Pakistani soldiers were killed or wounded, and the hostages were ultimately executed to prevent any rescue attempt. The group acknowledged losing 12 of its fighters in the operation, which they named "Darra-e-Bolan" after the rugged Bolan Pass, a historically strategic route in Balochistan that has seen countless battles over the centuries.
This latest escalation marks one of the deadliest incidents in the Baloch insurgency, which has simmered for decades. Baloch nationalists have long accused the Pakistani state of exploiting their resource-rich province while subjecting its people to economic marginalization, enforced disappearances, and military crackdowns. The BLA, one of the most prominent armed factions in the conflict, has increasingly targeted infrastructure projects, particularly those tied to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) — a multi-billion-dollar initiative that Baloch separatists view as a plundering of their homeland’s natural wealth without local benefits.
The Pakistani government has labeled the BLA a terrorist organization, alongside the United States and the United Kingdom, citing their history of deadly attacks on security forces and Chinese nationals involved in CPEC projects. Despite this, the insurgents continue to draw support from segments of the Baloch population, especially in remote areas where poverty, human rights abuses, and underdevelopment remain rampant.
International observers have expressed concern over the humanitarian fallout from this incident, particularly given Pakistan’s history of crackdowns following major Baloch militant attacks. Rights groups fear an escalation in enforced disappearances and military operations in Balochistan, a region already plagued by heavy security presence and allegations of extrajudicial killings.
The Pakistani military’s credibility is also at stake, with the BLA’s claims casting doubt on the official narrative. If verified, the execution of 214 hostages — mostly soldiers — would represent a colossal intelligence and operational failure, potentially igniting nationwide outrage and further destabilizing an already fragile security environment. The event also underscores the growing boldness and sophistication of Baloch insurgent groups, whose ability to hijack a major train and hold off Pakistan’s elite forces for days signals a dangerous shift in the conflict’s intensity.
The BLA, meanwhile, vowed to continue its fight for Balochistan’s "freedom from Pakistani occupation," warning of more such operations if their demands are ignored. As the dust settles, Pakistan faces mounting pressure — both domestically and internationally — to reassess its approach to the Balochistan crisis, balancing counterterrorism efforts with addressing the region’s longstanding grievances to prevent further bloodshed.
