Video shows Pakistan gunmen's old warning to China, not after train siege

Yahoo! News - Mar 24th, 2025

In the wake of a deadly train siege in southwest Pakistan in March 2025, a video from 2019 has resurfaced, showing masked gunmen from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) threatening violence against China and Pakistan. The BLA, a separatist group, claimed responsibility for the bombing of a railway track and the subsequent storming of a train in Balochistan province, which resulted in approximately 60 deaths. Despite the video being shared widely as a new threat on social media platforms like X and Facebook, investigations revealed it dates back to May 2019, when the BLA released it following an attack on the Pearl Continental Hotel in Gwadar. This hotel, a key location for Chinese and Pakistani investors, is part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a significant element of China's global Belt and Road initiative.

The resurfacing of this old video amid the recent train attack highlights the ongoing tensions in Balochistan, a mineral-rich region where the BLA accuses external entities of exploitation. The BLA's consistent targeting of Chinese interests underscores the geopolitical complexities associated with the CPEC, as it seeks to connect China's Xinjiang region with Gwadar. The province's strategic importance and the separatist violence reflect the broader challenges faced by China's economic expansion efforts in politically volatile regions. This incident further emphasizes the need for vigilant fact-checking in digital media, as misinformation can exacerbate existing tensions and mislead audiences about the current security landscape.

China Pakistan Balochistan Baloch Liberation Army Bla China Pakistan Economic Corridor Cpec Separatist Violence Gwadar

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The news story provides a timely and relevant account of a recent train siege in Pakistan, highlighting the role of the Baloch Liberation Army and its implications for Chinese interests in the region. It accurately identifies the video's origin as an older threat, correcting misinformation circulated on social media. However, the story could benefit from a more balanced perspective by including viewpoints from Chinese and Pakistani officials and independent analysts. While the article is generally clear and engaging, its reliance on social media as a source and lack of direct citations from official reports slightly undermine its credibility. Overall, the story raises important issues related to regional security and international relations, making it of significant public interest.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports on the emergence of a video following a train siege in Pakistan, linking it to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). It correctly identifies that the video is from May 2019, not a recent release, which is a critical point of accuracy. However, the report could be strengthened by providing official confirmation of the video's date and verifying the death toll from the siege, which the story claims resulted in around 60 deaths. The claim that the BLA regularly targets Chinese interests in Balochistan is consistent with historical data, but the story lacks direct citations from official sources to substantiate these points.

Balance

The story primarily focuses on the actions and threats of the Baloch Liberation Army and their impact on Chinese interests in Balochistan. While it provides a clear perspective on the BLA's motivations, it lacks a balanced view by not including perspectives from Chinese or Pakistani officials, or independent analysts, which could provide a more rounded understanding of the geopolitical implications. The absence of these viewpoints may lead to a perception of bias towards the BLA's narrative.

Clarity

The article is generally clear and concise, providing a logical flow of information about the BLA's activities and the train siege incident. The language used is straightforward, making the story accessible to a broad audience. However, some parts of the story could benefit from clearer explanations, particularly the geopolitical implications of the BLA's actions and the significance of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Source quality

The story references archived links and a reverse image search to support its claims about the video's origin, which are credible methods. However, it does not directly cite any official statements from Pakistani authorities or independent verification from reputable news agencies, which would enhance the story's credibility. The reliance on social media posts as a source of information requires careful scrutiny, as these platforms often contain misinformation.

Transparency

The article does a reasonable job of explaining the context of the video and its historical significance. However, it lacks transparency regarding the methodology used to verify the video's date, such as details of the reverse image search process. Additionally, the story does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases that might affect its impartiality, which would be helpful for readers to understand the context fully.