QUETTA: Security forces continue their operation against terrorists, who hijacked the Jaffer Express train in Dhadar area of Balochistan’s Bolan district, rescuing 155 passengers and killing 27 terrorists, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
The situation began on Tuesday when militants blew up a railway track, opened fire, and hijacked the train, near the Mashkaf Tunnel, about 157 kilometers from Quetta, taking around 400 passengers hostages, including numerous security personnel.
The suicide bombers are “holding women and children at three different locations”, using them as human shields, state media reported today, citing security sources.
Due to the presence of women and children with the suicide bombers, the operation is being conducted with utmost caution, it said.
“The terrorists responsible for the cowardly attack on Jaffar Express are in contact with their facilitators in Afghanistan,” security forces said, adding that the terrorists have positioned suicide bombers very close to some innocent hostages.
“The suicide bombers are wearing explosive vests.”
Furthermore, the report added that 37 injured have been sent for medical treatment as the operation by security forces to eliminate the remaining terrorists is continuing.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, and claimed to have taken a large number of people hostage. The group also claimed that they had freed a number of people — including women and children.
The group has demanded an exchange with security forces for its imprisoned members.
Security forces said they had launched a massive operation in the Dhadar area around the Mushkaf Tunnel to rescue the hostages and bring the attackers to justice.
Several reports suggested that three people have been killed, including the train driver, in the siege-like situation, AFP reported.
Railways Divisional Superintendent (DS) Imran Hayat said that ten people — including the driver of the locomotive and eight security personnel — had lost their lives.
By late Tuesday night, 104 passengers who were recovered were shifted to the nearby Paneer railway station, including 58 men, 31 women and 15 children. A relief train had evacuated them to nearby Mach station, while efforts are underway for the safe recovery of the remaining passengers.
Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway government official in the provincial capital Quetta, told AFP that passengers freed on Tuesday described walking for hours through mountainous terrain to reach safety.
“I can’t find the words to describe how we managed to escape. It was terrifying,” Muhammad Bilal, who had been travelling with his mother on the Jafar Express train, told AFP.
Help desk at Rawalpindi station
The authorities have established an “Help Desk” at the Rawalpindi Railway Station to assist relatives of passengers who were on board the Jaffar Express.
An interactive information desk at the Rawalpindi Railway station is in contact with the stations at Peshawar and Quetta to provide travel details for the passengers.
Meanwhile, the Jaffar Express service will remain suspended for three days from March 12 to 14, due to law-and-order reasons.
The help desk, which the Pakistan Railways said was in constant contact with the control rooms in Quetta and Peshawar, can be contacted on 051-9270831, 051-9270834 and 051-9270835.
An “Emergency Cell” has also been set up at Quetta Railway Station for information on the passengers and can be reached out to on 081-9201210, 081-9201211, and 117.
The train operation to Quetta has been temporarily suspended, and will be restored after security clearance, Pakistan Railways reiterated.
Condemnations pour in
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has lauded the courage and professionalism of security forces who bravely saved the lives of hundreds of passengers.
The prime minister stated that he hopes the security operation would soon completely wipe out the militants. He also pointed out that during the holy month of Ramazan ul Mubarak, the terrorists who aimed at the lives of innocent passengers had no link to Pakistan, Balochistan, or Islam.
Additionally, the President Asif Ali Zardari also commended the timely reaction of the security forces. The president praised the bravery of security forces who saved passengers and stressed that assaults on innocent people are inhuman and reprehensible.
According to the latest updates, Security personnel have saved 104 hostages—58 men, 31 women, and 15 children who were present in the train when the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the Jaffar Express.
Further to the above, security forces killed 16 militants and wounded many more. The operation is ongoing, and more security teams are entering the vicinity.
In a statement, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has also condemned the incident, praising the security forces for their swift response and operation against the terrorists responsible for the attack. She prayed for the safe return of all passengers.
The CM said, “Those who attacked innocent passengers are devoid of humanity.” She added, “I pray from the bottom of my heart for the well-being and safety of every passenger.”
