Pakistan Army Says 31 Casualties In Jaffar Express Hijack, Baloch Insurgents Claim Higher Death Toll

<p>The Baloch rebels, who hijacked Jaffar Express train in Pakistan, claimed to have killed all the 214 hostages as their deadline for a deal to swap them with Baloch political prisoners ended on Friday.</p>
<p>The insurgents have blamed Pakistan’s ‘stubbornness’ and ‘avoidance of negotiations’ despite a 48-hour deadline.</p>
<p>Spokeperson for the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Jeeyand Baloch, said that despite an ultimatum given to the Pakistani forces, they did not heed to it, resulting in the death of 214 hostages.</p>
<p>In a statement, the BLA said, “Baloch Liberation Army had given the Pakistani army a 48-hour ultimatum to exchange prisoners of war, which was the final chance for the 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.”</p>
<h2>What Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Chief Said?</h2>
<p>Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, in a press conference, said that terrorists along with their enablers and facilitators would be taken on from both inside and outside the country.</p>
<p>”We will take them on, their facilitators, and abettors whether inside Pakistan or outside. They will be dealt with sternly and in the way those killing innocent people deserve to be treated,&rdquo; Lt Gen Sharif said, Dawn reported.</p>
<p>ISPR chief addressed the media after Pakistani special forces successfully cleared the hijacked train. The operation lasted over 36 hours and resulted in the rescue of 354 passengers. However, 26 hostages lost their lives, including 18 military and Frontier Corps personnel, three railway employees, and five civilians.</p>
<p>Five security personnel were also killed. The Pakistani media has reported that the casualty count could rise, as 37 of the rescued hostages sustained injuries and are being treated at hospitals.</p>
<p>According to Dawn, a total of 33 terrorists were killed in the operation, though some managed to escape. Security forces have launched a sanitisation operation in the area to track down any remaining militants.</p>
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