On 11 March 2024, the Jaffar Express, a key passenger train running between Quetta and Rawalpindi, was targeted by terrorists in Bolan area of Balochistan, leading to multiple casualties and injuries. The attack, which was immediately claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), was yet another reminder of the ongoing security challenges in the region. While official sources and credible journalists reported the incident as a terrorist attack, a parallel narrative began to emerge on social media glorifying the terrorism, distorting the facts and shifting blame.
Our investigation uncovers how mainly Indian and some Afghan-backed propaganda accounts exploited the tragedy to push a misleading anti-state narrative. Within hours, social media platforms were flooded with fake news, unrelated images, and resurfaced videos and glorification of the terrorists.
- Old images from previous conflicts and unrelated incidents were falsely linked to the Jaffar Express incident.
- Hashtags like #TrainHijack and #BalochLiberationArmy campaigns driven by bot accounts celebrated the incident, supporting the terrorists and spreading misleading claims about armed forces.
- Both of the trends (#TrainHijack and #BalochLiberationArmy) gained overwhelming engagement from Indian accounts, 53% and 51% of the total activity, respectively. The trends amassed a social reach exceeding 400 million, indicating a widespread and organized effort to push misinformation and shape an anti-Pakistan narrative.
This report dissects the orchestrated disinformation campaign, the sources amplifying these narratives, and the tactics used to mislead users worldwide. By analyzing digital footprints, fact-checking viral content, and exposing coordinated propaganda efforts, this report reveal the full scale of this hybrid warfare operation against Pakistan.
Disinformation Case 1: Disinformation on Pakistan Army Mistreating Baloch Women
Claim:
A viral video posted by an Indian X (formerly Twitter) account claims to show Pakistan Army mistreating Baloch women. The video, which shows a man slapping women before they are taken into custody, is being circulated with hashtags such as #BalochLiberationArmy, #BalochistanIsNotPakistan, and #TrainHijack, suggesting a human rights violation against Baloch women in Pakistan.
Fact-Check Analysis
Reverse Image Search to Verify Origin
To verify the authenticity of the video, a reverse image search was conducted using key frames extracted from the footage. The search led to:
- Original sources of the video dating back to February 2021, proving that it is not related to Balochistan.
- The incident was reported inlocal Pakistani news outlets in 2021, identifying the location as Saidu Sharif Police Station, Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan.
Identifying the Real Incident
Further research into archived news reports and law enforcement statements confirmed:
- The video depicts a case of police misconduct, not military action.
- The individuals in the video were not Pakistan Army personnel but police officers in civilian clothes.
- The police officers were identified as being from Saidu Sharif Police Station, with SHO Rafiullah being one of the perpetrators.
- The arrested women were not Baloch political activists, but were allegedly involved in a local theft case.
- Following the backlash in 2021, disciplinary action was taken against the involved officers.
Conclusion
This is a clear case of digital propaganda, where an unrelated 2021 police brutality video was manipulated to appear as a military operation against Baloch women. The goal was to incite hostility against Pakistan’s armed forces, spread separatist sentiment, and distort facts surrounding the Jaffar Express attack.
Disinformation Case 2: Old Image from 2011 Falsely Linked to Jaffar Express Attack
Claim:
A widely shared image on social media shows multiple coffins wrapped in Pakistani flags, with a crowd offering Namaz-e-Janaza (funeral prayers). The image has been used by Indian and BLA sympathizer accounts to mock Pakistan Army and celebrate the deaths of military personnel, falsely claiming it depicts Pakistani soldiers killed in the Jaffar Express attack.
Fact-Check Analysis
Reverse Image Search to Verify Origin
A reverse image search was conducted to determine the true source of the image. The results revealed:
- The original image dates back to February 2011, proving it is not from the Jaffar Express incident in 2025.
- The image was taken after a Taliban suicide bombing targeted the Punjab Regiment Cadet College.
- Local media reported; 31 cadets were martyred in the attack, and the image captures their collective funeral.
Identifying Manipulation & False Attribution
Further investigation into social media posts spreading the claim showed:
- Pro-Indian and BLA-affiliated accounts deliberately shared the image with captions celebrating the deaths of Pakistan Army personnel.
- The original context of the image (2011 Taliban attack on cadets) was erased, and a new, false narrative was attached, linking it to the Jaffar Express attack in 2025.
- Multiple bot-generated posts used hashtags like #PakistanArmyDefeated, #BLARevenge, #JaffarExpressVictory to amplify the misinformation.
Social Media Disinformation Analysis
A closer look at the disinformation campaign strategy reveals:
- Hashtag manipulation: The misleading claim was promoted using #PakArmy, #BalochistanAttack, #BLAVictory, with the aim to demoralize and spread anti-state propaganda.
- Coordinated Disinformation Campaign: The image was deliberately circulated after the Jaffar Express attack, suggesting a calculated attempt to mislead the public and glorify separatist violence.
Conclusion
This is a deliberate act of digital misinformation, where a 2011 Taliban attack on cadets in Mardan was falsely portrayed as Pakistan Army casualties from the Jaffar Express attack in 2025. The goal was to celebrate terrorism, discredit Pakistan’s military, and push anti-state propaganda.
Disinformation Case 3: False Claim About BLA Taking Hostages After Jaffar Express Attack
Claim:
Multiple social media accounts posted a video claiming that these are the hostages taken by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) after the Jaffar Express attack. The video shows a large number of people walking through rough terrain, suggesting that they are kidnapped individuals being taken by militants.
Fact-Check Analysis
Reverse Image Search to Verify Origin
To verify the authenticity of the video, reverse image search tools such as Google Lens and InVID were used on key frames extracted from the footage. This analysis led to:
- The original video dating back to December 2024, proving that it is not related to the Jaffar Express incident or any hostage situation involving the BLA.
- The video was first circulated on social media covering Parachinar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan, in December 2024.
- No mention of the BLA or a hostage situation was found in the original context of the video.
Conclusion
This case is a classic example of digital propaganda, where an unrelated video from Parachinar, KP, was falsely linked to the Jaffar Express attack. The intent was to create chaos, spread fear, and legitimize BLA’s terrorist activities by fabricating a hostage crisis.
Disinformation Case 4: False Claim About Fire Eruption in Jaffar Express
Claim:
Multiple Indian accounts and Baloch separatist handles shared a 51-second video widely on social media, claiming that it shows the Jaffar Express train engulfed in flames, with thick smoke and chaos. The viral posts suggest that the train was set on fire during the attack, amplifying separatist propaganda and pushing anti-state narratives.
Fact-Check Analysis
Reverse Image Search to Verify Origin
A reverse image search was conducted using key frames extracted from the video. The analysis led to the following findings:
- The original video was traced back to March 10, 2025, a day ago the Jaffar Express attack.
- The footage was actually from Karachi Super Highway, where a restaurant named Chakar Hotel caught fire due to a gas cylinder explosion.
- Local media extensively covered the Karachi incident, confirming that the fire had no connection to any terrorist activity or the Jaffar Express incident.
Further research led us to other YouTube video reports of the incident, where we found multiple similar objects and visuals matching the viral video.
Conclusion
This is a clear case of deliberate disinformation, where an unrelated fire from Karachi was falsely presented as an attack on the Jaffar Express. The objective was to incite chaos, spread fear, and manipulate the public into believing a fabricated story that strengthens separatist propaganda.
Disinformation Case 5: Old 2022 Video Misrepresented as March 2025 Pakistan Train Hijack
Claim:
A video is being widely circulated on social media, claiming to show the March 2025 train hijack incident in Pakistan. The footage, which depicts chaotic scenes on a train, has been shared with misleading captions, suggesting that it is recent and directly linked to the Jaffar Express attack.
Fact-Check Analysis
Reverse Image Search to Verify Origin
A reverse image search was conducted using key frames from the viral video. The search revealed:
- The original video dates back to 2022, proving that it is not from the March 2025 train hijack incident.
- The video had been previously posted on X (formerly Twitter) in 2022 under different context, confirming that it is being resurfaced to mislead viewers.
- An Idian X account posted the same video on 15 April 2022 with caption, ‘ BLA has released footage of an IED attack on Train carrying FC(Frontier Corps) near Sibbi, Balochistan.’
Another X account posted it with following caption: ‘ The #balochliberationarmy has apparently attacked a train carrying Pakistani soldiers.’
Another keyword search was performed to learn more about the incident happened in 2022, we found a news report from March 2022 about an IED blast incident that happened on 15 March 2022 in the Sibi district of Pakistan.
Conclusion
This case is a deliberate attempt at misinformation, where a 2022 train-related video has been falsely linked to the 2025 train hijack incident. The goal was to spread panic, create chaos, and manipulate international perception of Pakistan’s security situation.
Disinformation Case 6: 2019 BLA Leader’s Video Misrepresented as 2025 Jaffar Express Hijack Statement
Claim:
A video of a Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) leader issuing a warning to China and Pakistan has been widely circulated on social media, falsely claiming that it is a recent statement linked to the 2025 Jaffar Express hijack incident. The video has been shared alongside propaganda hashtags, suggesting that the BLA has openly threatened further attacks in response to the incident.
Fact-Check Analysis
Reverse Image Search & Metadata Analysis
To verify the authenticity of the video, a reverse image search and video metadata extraction were performed. The analysis revealed:
- The original video dates back to 2019, proving that it is not a recent statement from 2025.
- The footage was first published following the 2019 Pearl Continental Hotel attack in Gwadar, an incident claimed by the BLA targeting Chinese investments in Pakistan.
- The background, attire, and speech patterns of the speaker matched the 2019 statement, confirming that no new video was recorded in 2025.
Identifying Manipulations in the Video
Further scrutiny of the circulating version of the video uncovered:
- Edited subtitles and misleading captions falsely linking the speech to the Jaffar Express hijack.
- Selective cutting and re-editing to remove references to the 2019 Gwadar attack, making it seem like a new declaration.
- No references to the Jaffar Express attack in theoriginal footage, proving that it was misrepresented.
Social Media Disinformation Analysis
The video was deliberately resurfaced and manipulated to push anti-Pakistan propaganda following the Jaffar Express incident. Analysis of bot-driven narratives and separatist-linked accounts revealed:
- Hashtag manipulation: The misleading claim was spread using #BalochistanLiberationArmy, #JaffarExpressAttack, #PakArmyTerrorism, creating an artificial online trend.
- Coordinated Digital Campaign: The video was shared primarily by Indian-backed accounts and BLA sympathizers, following a pattern of previous separatist disinformation efforts.
- Narrative Amplification: The false context aimed to glorify the BLA and portray them as actively threatening new attacks, despite no such statement being made in 2025.
Conclusion
This is a clear case of manipulated propaganda, where a 2019 BLA leader’s statement about the Gwadar attack was edited and falsely presented as a 2025 Jaffar Express-related warning. The intent was to fabricate an ongoing militant threat, glorify separatist activities, and discredit Pakistan’s security forces.
Disinformation Case 7: Video Falsely Claimed as BLA Releasing Women & Families During Jaffar Express Hijack
Claim:
A 15-second video is being widely circulated by Indian and BLA sympathizer accounts, claiming that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijackers spared women and families during the Jaffar Express incident.
Users on X (formerly Twitter) posted:
- “یہ وہ منظر ہے جب بی ایل اے کے سرمچاروں نے جعفر ایکسپریس پر کنٹرول سنبھالا، خواتین و بچوں سمیت تمام سویلین مسافروں کو محفوظ راستہ فراہم کردیا اور مسافر اپنی مدد آپ کے تحت قریبی علاقے کو پہنچے اور اب پاکستان فوج رات کو بھڑکایا مار رہا ہے کہ ہم نے انہیں بازیاب کیا ہے” (This is the moment when BLA militants took control of the Jaffar Express, provided a safe passage to civilians, and passengers reached safety on their own. Now the Pakistan Army is falsely claiming to have rescued them.)
An Indian user on X posted the same video with following caption: #WATCH; women and children were not made prisoners but they were provided safe passage and taken to Quetta.’
The posts glorify the BLA as merciful rebels, suggesting that the Pakistan Army falsely claimed credit for a hostage rescue operation.
Fact-Check Analysis
Timeline Verification of the Video
A user on X debunked the claim, pointing out that:
- The video was uploaded on YouTube on March 9, 2025—two days before the Jaffar Express hijacking incident on March 11, 2025.
- If the video existed before the attack, it is impossible for it to depict the event or its aftermath.
Reverse Search & Cross-Platform Verification
To trace the original source, we conducted a reverse image search and analyzed content across platforms:
- A TikTok account named “hamida.ansari” posted a longer version of the same video, showing rugged terrain and multiple groups of people, including women and children, walking uphill.
- A deeper search led to a Facebook video from BBC Farsi, reporting on the escape of the Hazara community from Taliban persecution.
- Another Facebook page had posted the same footage in July 2022, linking it to Hazara refugees escaping Balkhab, Afghanistan, due to Taliban attacks.
Identifying the Manipulation
- The viral clip was cropped and shortened, removing context to falsely link it to the Jaffar Express hijacking.
- The original video has nothing to do with Pakistan, Balochistan, or the BLA, it shows Afghan refugees fleeing Taliban violence in 2022.
- The edited footage was strategically circulated to fabricate the false claim that BLA militants released women and children unharmed.
Propaganda Narrative & Reality
The intent behind the misinformation campaign was to:
- Glorify the BLA as a disciplined and merciful group that does not harm civilians.
- Undermine the Pakistan Army’s counterterrorism operation, discrediting official reports.
- Create sympathy for separatist militants, falsely portraying them as “liberators.”
The Reality of BLA’s Treatment of Women
Contrary to their false claims of respecting women, the BLA has a history of exploiting and radicalizing Baloch women for terrorist activities.
- Shari Baloch, the first female BLA suicide bomber, carried out the April 2022 Karachi University attack, killing 4 people, including 3 Chinese nationals.
- Mahal Baloch, a BLA-affiliated woman arrested in February 2024 in Quetta, planned to carry out a suicide bombing on behalf of the group.
Conclusion
This is a clear case of disinformation, where an old video from Afghanistan (2022) was cropped and falsely linked to the Jaffar Express hijack (2025). The objective was to mislead the public, glorify BLA terrorists, and undermine the Pakistani military’s anti-terror operations.
Disinformation Case 8: Old Image of Lt. Nauman Raza Falsely Linked to Jaffar Express Attack
Claim:
A picture of a Pakistan Army officer is being widely circulated on social media by Baloch separatist sympathizers, claiming that he was killed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) during the Jaffar Express attack in 2025. The viral posts glorify the BLA and mock Pakistan’s military, falsely portraying his death as a militant victory.
Fact-Check Analysis
Reverse Image Search to Verify Origin
A reverse image search was conducted to trace the true source of the image. The analysis revealed:
- The officer in the viral picture is Lt. Nauman Raza (Shaheed), who embraced martyrdom on March 13, 2014, more than a decade before the Jaffar Express incident in 2025.
- His martyrdom was not related to any terrorist attack or encounter with the BLA.
- The original reports from 2014 confirm that he died in a tragic road accident while traveling from Pannu Aqil Cantt to Karachi.
Identifying the Real Incident
Further investigation into archived reports and official military statements confirmed:
- Lt. Nauman Raza (Shaheed) was en route to Karachi when his military jeep overturned due to hitting a stone on the road.
- He suffered severe head injuries and passed away on the spot.
- His martyrdom had no connection to Balochistan, separatists, or militant activity.
- CMH confirmed his death at 1400 hours on March 13, 2014.
Conclusion
This is a clear example of disinformation, where an unrelated 2014 martyrdom of Lt. Nauman Raza in a road accident was falsely presented as a recent military casualty caused by BLA terrorists. The intent was to glorify separatist violence and mislead the public into believing a false narrative.
Disinformation Case 9: False Claims of Deaths in Jaffar Express Attack Spread by BLA & Indian Propaganda Accounts
Claim:
Indian accounts and Baloch separatist sympathizer accounts claimed that 214 hostages were killed during the Jaffar Express rescue operation. They also insisted that the operation was still ongoing till March 15, despite official confirmations of its completion. Multiple accounts made false claims about the number of casualties were deliberately spread to mislead the public, with figures exaggerated far beyond reality. These narratives ignored ground reports and independent Pakistani media coverage, which provided verified numbers based on official sources.
Fact-Check Analysis
Cross-Verification with Official Reports
To verify the actual death toll, we analyzed official statements from the Pakistani media and intelligence sources:
- On March 13, 2025, the DG ISPR (Director General Inter-Services Public Relations) confirmed:
- The operation had been completed, with all 33 terrorists neutralized at the attack site.
- 21 passengers and 4 Frontier Corps personnel were martyred.
- No hostages were harmed during the final rescue phase.
- Independent media coverage from Pakistan and international outlets also reported the same figures, confirming the DG ISPR’s statement.
Exposing the Disinformation Tactics
Further investigation into BLA and propaganda accounts spreading the 214 deaths claim revealed:
- Exaggerated figures were artificially boosted by BLA-affiliated digital networks to create panic and chaos.
- Fake reports on casualties were circulated using unverified images of mass casualties from unrelated incidents, falsely attributed to the Jaffar Express attack.
- Coordinated Disinformation Campaign: Indian-backed propaganda pages shared the false 214 deaths claim, contradicting ground reports and verified casualty numbers.
Conclusion
This is a deliberate disinformation campaign where BLA and Indian-linked propaganda networks falsely exaggerated the number of deaths to spread chaos, mislead the public, and undermine the credibility of Pakistan’s armed forces. The actual confirmed casualties were 25, not 214, and the operation was successfully completed as per DG ISPR’s statement.
Key Takeaways
The Jaffar Express incident was not just a security crisis but also a digital battleground, where disinformation and propaganda were weaponized to manipulate public perception. The coordinated spread of fake narratives, exaggerated casualty figures, and resurfaced old content highlights how disinformation networks exploit real events to push anti-state agendas. The widespread engagement, particularly from Indian, Afghan and BLA-affiliated accounts, demonstrates the growing influence of hybrid warfare tactics in shaping public discourse.
To counter this, digital media literacy is more critical than ever. Social media users must learn to verify claims, cross-check sources, and question viral trends before believing or sharing content. Reverse image searches, fact-checking tools, and awareness of coordinated disinformation tactics can help individuals differentiate between truth and propaganda. Strengthening public awareness and critical thinking is the only way to disrupt the cycle of misinformation and ensure that facts shape public opinion.