Pakistan Train Hijack: Viral Video Message By BLA Threatening China Is Old

The Jaffar Express was intercepted and hijacked by the members of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) on its way from Pakistan’s Quetta to Peshawar on Tuesday (March 11). Now, a video purportedly showing a statement by a group following the Pakistan train hijack surfaced online. 

In the alleged video, a BLA leader purportedly termed the attack as a “clear message to China and Pakistan to withdraw immediately for Balochistan,” adding, “the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) will fail miserably on the Baloch land.” He also threatens the Chinese officials, and asks President Xi Jinping to “quit Balochistan or witness retaliation.”

Multiple social media users shared the footage claiming to show the BLA’s video message after the Pakistan train hijack. Newschecker, however, found the video to be old. 

Such posts can be seen here and here.

Also Read: 2022 Video Falsely Linked To Pakistan Train Hijack, Goes Viral

Fact Check/Verification

A Google Lens search on the keyframes of the viral video led us to an X post by @SHussainShokat, dated May 20, 2019. It featured a video of the BLA members in the same location as seen in the viral clip. 

We scanned the video, and found it to be a longer version of the viral footage claiming to show the BLA’s message after the recent Pakistan train hijack. In the initial few frames of the longer version of the clip, the BLA leader says, “Our self sacrificing squad Majeed Brigade attacked Pearl Continental hotel in Gwadar and inflicted heavy losses upon both Pakistan and China…” 

He again mentions the attack on Pearl Continental hotel around 45 seconds in the longer version of the video. However, the same has been edited out for the viral clip. 

We also found a Facebook post from May 19, 2019 carrying the same video.

Carrying a screengrab from the viral clip, a report by The Balochistan Post from May 19, 2019, stated, “…The video has been released only days after four members of Baloch Liberation Army’s Majeed Brigade stormed a five-star hotel in Gwadar and battled Pakistani commandos for 26 hours. The deadly attack on 11th May at a luxury hotel in Gwadar has intensified security concerns around Beijing’s major development drive in Pakistan, including a strategic deep-sea port.” 

Multiple outlets such as this, this and this reported on the attack at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar in May 2019. 

Also Read: Deepfake Video Of Mia Khalifa Calling Hardik Pandya Her Favourite Cricketer Goes Viral

Conclusion

Hence, the viral video claiming to show the BLA’s message following the recent Jaffar Express hijack was found to be old.

Sources
X Post By @SHussainShokat, Dated May 20, 2019
Report By The Balochistan Post , Dated May 19, 2019