- Security sources said the terrorists are in touch with satellite phones with their overseas handlers.
- The Minister of State for Home says security forces have run carefully because of the life involved, and said the operation is still underway.
- Processed Balochistan Liberation Army Group claims responsibility for the attack
Islamabad/Quetta: Security forces have rescued 104 passengers from terrorists after the attack on the Jaffar Express train in Peshawar, who traveled from Balochistan’s Bolan Pass and killed 22 terrorists, while continuing operations to rescue all passengers, and confirmed the terrorist, and last night.
Security forces have successfully rescued 104 passengers from terrorists, including 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children who have been shifted to Mach Railway Station on a rescue train. He said 22 terrorists have been eliminated so far, and 17 injured have been shifted to the hospital for medical treatment.
Earlier, media outlets in public-owned media and PTV News reported “citing security sources” that the terrorists attacked Jafar Express in Bolan Pass area of ​​Balochistan’s Dhadar and they took passengers, in which women and children were taken hostage.
He reported that the terrorists were in touch with their “foreign facilitators and handlers” via “satellite phones”, while security forces have surrounded the area and launched a clearance operation until the last terrorist continues.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Superintendent of the Railways confirmed 10 deaths while talking to the media. The dead included engine drivers and nine passengers who belonged to the security forces who were traveling to their hometown on a holiday, he said. They were shot dead.
Imran Hayat said some militants fled to the mountains and took 17 hostages to the mountains with them. Some of the attackers are still taking hostage passengers and staff at the scene.
According to the railway controller, the released passengers said the attackers had put guns together with railway staff and passengers.
According to security sources, the terrorists were divided into small groups due to the operation of security forces. The injured passengers have been shifted to a nearby hospital while additional security squads are taking part in the operation.
On the other hand, while talking to a private TV channel, Minister of State for Home Talal Chaudhry said that the train was taken hostage around the afternoon in the remote area.
“Some passengers were released when the security forces began arriving at the scene,” he said, adding that he could not disclose the number yet.
He added that independent passengers are taking the nearby station and eventually taking their desired destinations. “Many people have been taken off the train in the mountainous area and women and children are being used as a shield [by the terrorists]”Chaudhry added.
The Minister said that the security forces were operating caution due to the lives involved, saying that the operation was still underway.
“They are cowards. They selected soft targets and attacks while hiding.
The state minister did not respond and proceeded when the anchor said that 80 people were allegedly rescued, the figures presented through security sources.
Processed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Balochistan government spokesman Shahid Rind’s first statement said that “there were reports of intense firing in a Jaffar Express train, which was heading from Quetta to Peshawar between Pahro Kanri and Gadallar.”
Controller Railway Mohammad Kashif said that about 500 passengers aboard a train with nine coaches.
The controller said, “Armed men stopped the train in Tunnel No. 8. Passengers and staff are trying to contact.”
Reuters reported that security forces said an explosion was heard near the tunnel and that they were setting fire to militants in the mountainous area.
Mishkif tunnel is located 157 km from Quetta and about 21 km from Sibi.
Although Quetta Jacobed N65 Highway and Railway Line mostly run in the Bolan region, they move near Mashkif city.
From here, the railway line takes a more straight path, cut off the mountains and runs on the banks of the Bolan River, and joins the main road near Mach.
The Mashkif tunnel is located in a very isolated part of the uneven area, which is located in the nearest station in Pahro Canary. The next stop on the line of Quetta is a stop of cheese, which is quite short of a cheese tunnel.
According to the government’s statement, an emergency has been imposed in Sibi Hospital, while ambulances and security forces were going to the incident. However, Rind added, officials had difficulty reaching the site due to rocky terrain.
“The scale of the incident and the possibility of terrorist elements are being determined. The Balochistan government has ordered that emergency measures be taken, and all institutions remain active.
Rind urged the people to stay calm and refrain from focusing on rumors.
Tariq Mehmood, in -charge of the Emergency Counter at the Peshawar Railway Station, located for the incident, told Dawn.com that the Jabafar Express arrives in Peshawar in 34 hours of passing through different areas of four provinces. Most people from different parts of Punjab board the train after being removed from Quetta.
According to Health Department spokesman Dr Wasim Baig, an emergency has also been announced at the Civil Hospital Quetta. “All advisors, doctors, pharmacists, staff nurses and paramedical staff have been summoned to the hospital,” Baig said.
The condemnation is flowing
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned the incident and paid tribute to the security forces to save his “effective action” and passengers.
“Attacks on innocent civilians and travelers are inhuman and abominable activities. Those who attack passengers are against Balochistan and its traditions.
“Baloch Nation rejects people who carry innocent travelers, elders and children to attack and hostage. No religion or society allows such abominable activities,” they are quoted in a statement by the President.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif praised the security forces for withdrawing the terrorists from their “timely action and bravery” withdrawal from the Prime Minister’s office, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
He added that he would soon complete the operation and “bring cowardly terrorists to their elimination”.
He said that the terrorists of the cowardly attack do not deserve any exemption. Terrorists are enemies of Balochistan development.
“We will continue to fight against the monster of terrorism unless it is completely eliminated from the country,” he said. We will thwart every conspiracy to spread insecurity and chaos in Pakistan.
“We will never allow the evil intentions of the anti -national elements to succeed,” he said. In this war on terror, the entire nation stands with its security forces, “said the Prime Minister.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the incident and said: “The beasts who fired at innocent passengers do not deserve any privileges.”
According to a statement, he also prayed for the immediate recovery of the injured in the shooting.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also strongly condemned the incident.
“Dispensary plans for anti -national and anti -social elements will never be allowed,” the statement said. “The Sindh government stands with the Balochistan government.
“Provincial police and other law enforcement agencies will control the situation.”
Former President Arif Alvi condemned the “dirty and cowardly terrorist attack”, adding that people have a united stance on such matters. “That’s exactly what the Armed Forces need attention,” he said in a post on X.
Terror attacks in Balochistan
During the past one year, Balochistan terrorist attacks have been alarmingly increasing when at least 26 people were killed and 62 were injured in a suicide bombing in November 2024, a suicide bombing by Quetta Railway Station.
According to a report by the Pakistan Think Tank Pak Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), Islamabad, during 2024, the number of terrorist attacks reached the level of confrontation with the security situation in 2014 or earlier.
The report revealed that although the terrorists no longer controlled any particular area inside Pakistan, as they did in 2014, the security situation in parts of KP and Balochistan was “worrisome”.
It states that more than 95 % of the terrorist attacks recorded in 2024 were related to KP and Balochistan.
It states that the attacks of various illegal Baloch insurgent groups, mainly in the BLA and the Balochistan Liberation Front, saw a surprising 119 % increase, which faced 171 incidents in Balochistan.
