Balochistan: The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed to have executed 214 passengers of the Jaffar Express, the train it hijacked on Tuesday evening. This claim was made by Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson for the BLA through a press release issued on Friday.
The Pakistan Army has, however, claimed that over 300 passengers of the train were rescued in an operation that left 33 rebels dead. The BLA has confirmed that 21 fidayeen were killed during the fight. It has blamed Pakistan’s stubbornness and arrogance for the deaths.
“Baloch Liberation Army had given the Pakistani army a 48-hour ultimatum to exchange prisoners of war, which was the last chance for the occupying army to save the lives of its personnel. However, Pakistan, displaying its traditional stubbornness and military arrogance, not only avoided serious negotiations but also turned a blind eye to the ground realities. As a result of this stubbornness, all 214 hostages have been executed,” the statement claimed.
“BLA has always acted in accordance with the principles of war and international law, but the Pakistani state preferred to use its personnel as fuel for war instead of saving their lives. The enemy had to pay the price for this stubbornness in the form of the execution of 214 personnel. BLA pays tribute to the 12 freedom fighters martyred in this battle, who made an unforgettable sacrifice against the enemy. On Wednesday night, three freedom fighters were martyred, while last night, four more freedom fighters were martyred in combat. Additionally, five Fidayeen of the Majeed Brigade sacrificed their lives dealing the enemy a defeat that will always be remembered in history,” it has been claimed.
The press release further states: “In the Operation Darra-e-Bolan battle, Fidayeen trapped the enemy in a devastating ambush and delivered a decisive blow. Fidayeen locked some hostage military personnel in special bogies and took up positions while other freedom fighters managed to take the remaining hostages to a safe location. When the Zarar Company of Pakistani SSG commandos arrived to rescue the hostages locked in the bogies of the Jaffar Express, Fidayeen surrounded and attacked them fiercely. In this battle, which lasted for several hours, SSG commandos suffered heavy casualties while the hostages were also executed. Fidayeen fought till the last bullet, inflicting a decisive blow on the enemy and achieving martyrdom by following the philosophy of the last bullet, firing their final shot on themselves.”
“Now occupying army is trying in vain to present the bodies of these Fidayeen as a ‘success’ despite the fact that their mission was never to return alive but to fight until the last bullet. Despite all its military and intelligence superiority, the army failed to rescue the hostages. Moreover, those whom the Pakistani state is portraying as “rescued” were actually released by the BLA on the first day granted safe passage under the rules of war,” it adds.
