BLA Releases First Footage Showing How It Blew Off Jaffar Express in Pakistan's Bolan

Bolan: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a day after it hijacked Pakistan train Jaffar Express, on Wednesday released the first footage of the attack showing how it blew up the railway track and took control over the train as it was coming out of a tunnel. The Baloch rebels hijacked the train with over 400-onboard on Tuesday in Pakistan's Bolan area, near Sibi city. The main motive of BLA to seize the train was to take Pakistani Army personnel as hostage and negotiate for their demands with the Islamabad.

The Baloch Liberation Army after hijacking the train had released almost all the civilians including women and children but is holding up more than 214 Pakistani military personnel. According to reports, the Pakistani forces have been able to rescue over 150 hostages (women and children) and killed 27 rebels but has also lost 30 of its soldiers during the security operation.  

In the first footage released by Baloch Liberation Army, it shows the train – Jaffar Express – is coming out of a tunnel (tunnel number 8) in the Bolan region when suddenly a blast is seen occurring on the track, bringing the train to halt. Earlier, BLA had said that it had blown up the track to take control over the train and have placed suicide bombers next to the hostages.

On Tuesday, soon after the Baloch rebels hijacked the train, the Pakistani forces launched a security operation including air strikes and gun battle. However, they were overpowered by BLA fighters.

The BLA had issued a stern warning to the Pakistan's government saying that it will start executing all the hostages if the security forces continued with air strikes or tried to plan covert operation.

What are the demands of Baloch Liberation Army?

The Baloch rebels have taken over 210 Pakistani military personnel as hostage who are being treated as prisoners of war under the ‘rules of war’. The rebels said that all the hostages have been held under full security and a prisoner exchange with the Pakistani government will be the only way for their secure release.

The BLA fighters once again warned the government to not attempt for any military operation as they have placed suicide bombers near the train, hostages and any smart move by the state will end up with tragic results.

The Baloch rebels gave a 48-hour ultimatum to the Pakistani government on Tuesday to release Baloch political prisoners, forcibly disappeared persons and nation resistance activists unconditionally, if it wanted a secure release of its soldiers. 

The 214 Pakistani hostages comprise of military, paramilitary, police and intelligence officers.