Islamabad [Pakistan], March 15: Following the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train by Baloch rebel groups, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General, Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, vowed to take action against terrorists, their enablers, and facilitators both inside and outside the country.
Addressing the media regarding the incident, Chaudhry condemned the actions of the terrorists, stating, “Terrorists will be dealt with as they deserve. Those who drag innocent people out of buses and slaughter them, a group that divides people by ethnicity, have no connection to Baloch [ethnicity] or Islam.” He added that these groups would be confronted directly, regardless of their location.
Meanwhile, Baloch rebels, who have claimed responsibility for the hijacking, announced that they had killed 214 hostages, blaming Pakistan’s “stubbornness” and failure to engage in negotiations despite a 48-hour ultimatum. Jeeyand Baloch, a spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), stated that the Pakistani military’s refusal to meet their demands led to the deaths of the hostages.
The BLA issued a statement claiming that they had given Pakistan a final chance to negotiate a prisoner exchange, but Pakistan’s refusal to engage in serious talks led to the execution of 214 hostages. “BLA has always acted in accordance with the principles of war and international law,” the statement read, adding that Pakistan’s reluctance to negotiate resulted in the tragic loss of life.
On Thursday, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry confirmed the completion of the Jaffar Express clearance operation in Balochistan, where 33 rebels involved in the hijacking were killed.