On Friday, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s military announced that the death toll from a train hijacking in the southwestern mountainous region had increased to 31. He reiterated allegations that militants involved in the incident received support from neighboring India and Afghanistan.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the hijacking of the Jaffar Express on Tuesday. During the assault, they detonated explosives on the train tracks and took passengers hostage, resulting in a day-long standoff with security forces in a remote mountain area of Balochistan province.
Major General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry, the army spokesperson, stated at a press conference in Islamabad, “We have evidence linking all terrorist activities in Pakistan back to Afghanistan.” He further asserted that India was the primary supporter of the insurgents.
Islamabad has consistently accused New Delhi and Kabul of supplying funds, resources, weapons, and training to the insurgents operating in Balochistan, which shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran. Both countries have denied these claims, asserting that the insurgency is an internal issue for Pakistan.
Chaudhry reported that the final casualty count included 18 soldiers, three railway employees, and five civilians among the passengers who were held captive for over 24 hours. Additionally, five soldiers were killed during the rescue operation, which resulted in the deaths of 33 insurgents. The general confirmed that a total of 354 hostages were rescued.
While the insurgents have claimed to still hold hostages, Chaudhry stated that there is no evidence to support this assertion, and the military has declared that the siege has concluded.
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The BLA is the largest and most powerful among several ethnic Baloch insurgent groups that have been striving for independence in the mineral-rich province, which is home to significant China-led initiatives, including a port and gold and copper mines.
