'All 214 Pakistani Army Soldiers Killed': Baloch Liberation Army's Big Claim, Says Encounter Underway

Bolan: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Friday claimed that it has killed all the 214 Pakistani Army Personnel, who were held hostage by its fighters and an encounter with Pakistani security forces was still underway. The latest claim by the Baloch rebels counters Pakistan 's version as Islamabad on Thursday claimed that their security forces had neutralised all 33 BLA fighters while 26 hostages were killed in the security operation.

Baloch Liberation Army hijacks Pakistan train Jaffar Express

The Baloch rebels in a planned operation had hijacked Pakistan train Jaffar Express with over 400-onboard including women, children and a majority of Pakistani Army soldiers on Wednesday. The main motive behind the train seize was to held hostage the Army personnel to negotiate a deal with Islamabad and release their (Baloch) members and prisoners of war. 

Rebels detonated railway track outside a remote tunnel in Bolan

The Baloch fighters had detonated a part of the railway track when the train was coming out of remote tunnel (tunnel no. 8) in Bolan near Sibi station. The train was enroute to Peshawar from Quetta. A day later after hijack, the rebels released a footage showing how they exploded the railway track to derail it and took over the control.

Baloch rebels gave 48-hour deadline to Pakistan government 

The Baloch rebels, who hijacked the train Jaffar Express in Bolan, had earlier held women and children as hostages along with the Pakistani soldiers. However, they later released almost all the civilians but captured the 214 Pakistani Army personnel who were going to their hometowns on leave.

The Baloch Liberation Army gave a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistan's government to release their members including Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and nation resistance activists unconditionally. The Baloch rebels warned Islamabad that failing to accept their demands will result in the execution of all the 214 hostages.

The rebels have also threatened the Pakistani establishment not to initiate any security operation be on the ground or airstrikes. Any smart move by the government would risk the lives of their soldiers.

Pakistan claims end to Jaffar Express seize 

Pakistan earlier said that their security forces had neutralised all the 33 Baloch Liberation Army fighters but the security operation resulted in the death of 21 hostages.

The Pakistani government claimed that the security operation was over adding Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would soon be meeting the survivors of the deadly train hijack.

Earlier, an eyewitness who was able to escape the seize while speaking to Pakistani reporters had informed that he saw at least 70-80 dead bodies lying there after Baloch rebels executed the hostages. First the eyewitness and now the Baloch Army saying that all the hostages have been executed bust Pakistan's claim that the operation is over because contradicting versions definitely raises a doubt that it has not.