Quetta: Security forces have successfully launched a clearance operation in Balochistan’s Bolan district after an unknown number of terrorists took passengers of the Jaffar Express hostage. At least 16 attackers were eliminated, and 104 civilians were rescued, according to security sources.
The Jaffar Express, carrying over 400 passengers in nine bogies, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was ambushed. Security sources reported that terrorists bombed the railway track before opening fire on the locomotive, injuring the driver and bringing the train to a halt near a tunnel in a remote, mountainous region bordering Afghanistan and Iran.
As of early Wednesday morning, 57 rescued passengers were transported to Quetta, while 23 others remained in Machh. The rescued individuals include 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children. Seventeen injured passengers have been shifted to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention.
Security forces are continuing their operation to rescue the remaining hostages. According to intelligence sources, the attackers are communicating with international handlers via satellite phones, with reports suggesting their masterminds are based in Afghanistan. The terrorists are reportedly using women and children as human shields, complicating the operation further.
Authorities faced significant challenges in reaching the site due to the difficult terrain. However, security forces cordoned off the area and launched a strategic operation to neutralize the terrorists. The militants, upon facing resistance, split into smaller groups, but efforts to track them down are ongoing.
The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures, mobilizing all institutions to manage the crisis. A relief train and additional contingents of security forces were dispatched, while an emergency has been declared in Sibi and Civil Hospital Quetta. The provincial health department has called in all medical staff and vacated hospital wards to accommodate the injured.
To facilitate information dissemination, an emergency information desk has been set up at Quetta Railway Station, with railway officials providing updates on the situation.
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President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the Jaffar Express attack and praised security forces for their swift response. President Zardari condemned the act of taking innocent civilians hostage, stating that no religion or society permits such inhumane acts. He expressed support for the security forces and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif commended the armed forces for their bravery in confronting the terrorists despite the challenging environment. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating terrorism, declaring that those responsible for such heinous attacks do not deserve leniency.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that terrorists are the biggest threat to Pakistan and must be dealt with decisively.
Other political leaders, including PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, and ANP President Aimal Wali Khan, also condemned the attack and called for stringent measures against terrorist elements.
Pakistan has witnessed a sharp surge in militant attacks, with incidents rising by 42% in January 2025 compared to the previous month. Data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) recorded at least 74 militant attacks nationwide, resulting in 91 fatalities and 117 injuries.
Balochistan has been particularly affected, with 24 reported attacks in January alone, leading to the deaths of 26 people, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and nine militants.
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