Jaffar Express operation complete, hostages rescued: DG ISPR

• Pak Army, Air Force, SSG and FC took part in joint operation.
• DG says 21 passengers were martyred before clearance operation.
• 'Jaffer Express incident changes rules of the game' 

The Pakistan Army announced on Wednesday that the Jaffar Express hostage-rescue operation was completed successfully and all attackers present at the site were killed by security forces and the hostages freed.

Speaking to a private news channel, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed the completion of the complex operation, elaborating that units from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Special Services Group (SSG), army and Frontier Corps (FC) took part.

Dozens of militants, affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), blew up a railway track and assaulted the Jaffar Express on Tuesday, carrying more than 400 passengers, authorities said. 

"All 33 terrorists have been sent to hell...no harm was caused to any passenger during the clearance operation," the DG ISPR said. 

However, he added, before the clearance operation was initiated, 21 passengers were martyred by the terrorists.

Divulging details of the incident, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the terrorists targeted a railway track in Bolan on March 11, stopped the Jaffar Express and took passengers hostage. "The militants used hostages, including women and children, as human shields," he added.

Furthermore, he said that the attackers had placed the hostages in groups with suicide bombers sitting amongst them. "The suicide bombers were taken out by security forces snipers," he added.

"The terrorists remained in contact with their facilitators and mastermind based in Afghanistan via satellite phone during the clearance operation," he revealed. 

“Around 100 passengers were safely rescued yesterday evening from the terrorists, and today as well, a large number of passengers have been recovered,” he added. 

He noted that all terrorists present on the site of the incident were killed, however, the clearance of the train and area were being carried out by the bomb disposal squad as per the standard operating procedure.

Besides this, Lt Gen Chaudhry said that hostages who fled to nearby areas during the operation were being gathered as well.

Elaborating on the final clearance operation that was conducted earlier today, the ISPR chief said the armed forces cleared all boogies one by one and “sent 33 terrorists to hell”. 

"No one can be permitted to make innocent people of Pakistan the victim of their barbarism in the streets, trains, buses or markets because of their misleading ideology," he added,

The military spokesperson noted that the incident of Jaffer Express has changed the rules of the game. "Whoever did this will be hunted down and brought to justice,” he added. He added that the terrorists had nothing to do with Islam, Pakistan and Balochistan.

In a statement released later, the military's media wing said a sanitization operation is also being conducted in the area and "abettors of this cowardly and henious act will be brought to justice".

"Intelligence reports have unequivocally confirmed that the attack was orchestrated and directed by terrorist ring leaders operating from Afghanistan, who were in direct communication with the terrorists throughout the incident," said the ISPR. 

The military's media wing reiterated that Pakistan expects the interim Afghan government to uphold its responsibilities and deny the use of its soil for terrorist activities against Pakistan. 

"The security forces of Pakistan remain steadfast in their resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The sacrifices of innocent civilians and our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment and resolve to safeguarding our nation at all costs," added the ISPR. 

Felicitations

Following the conclusion of the operation, President Asif Ali Zardari appreciated the security forces for completing an operation against terrorists and releasing passengers of the Jaffar Express who were taken hostage.

The president expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of 21 civilians and four FC personnel. He also praised the security forces for their effective response and killling 33 terrorists.

He paid tribute to the four FC soldiers who embraced martyrdom and commended the professionalism of the security forces displayed during the operation.

The president prayed for the high ranks of the departed souls and for the bereaved families to bear the losses with fortitude. He also expressed the resolve to secure peace and the complete elimination of terrorism in Balochistan province.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the Pakistan Army and security forces for successfully completing Jaffar Express operation and rescuing the hostages.

The prime minister said the completion of Jaffar Express operation, without any major losses, was made possible due to the professional expertise of the security forces and the dynamic leadership of the Army Chief, adding the operation was conducted with exceptional skills.

He also announced to visit Balochistan tomorrow (Thursday) to express solidarity with the people and assess the security situation. He will also preside over a meeting to review the law and order situation.

The prime minister said the brave soldiers and officers displayed courage and valour, eliminating 33 terrorists.

He also expressed deep sorrow and grief over the martyrdom of security personnel and train passengers and prayed for the forgiveness of the martyrs and patience and strength for their families.

“Those who harm innocent and unarmed civilians have no connection with Islam or this country,” the press release quoted the prime minister, as saying.

He also reaffirmed to defeat those, on all fronts, who attacked innocent civilians, adding the fight against terrorists would continue until terrorism was completely eradicated from the country.

Rescue operation

Earlier, security sources said that at least 190 passengers had been freed after terrorists hijacked the Jaffar Express near Balochistan’s Bolan district.

According to security sources, forces rescued a large number of hostages, including women and children. The rescued civilians were being used as human shields by the terrorists.

During the operation, the security forces practiced utmost caution because of the innocent lives involved. Meanwhile, 37 injured individuals were evacuated for medical treatment, security sources confirmed.

The railway journey from Quetta to Peshawar includes various stops as it passes through at least 11 cities, including Sibi, Jacobabad, Rohri, Khanpur, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Lahore, Gujranwala and Islamabad.

The attackers bombed the railway track before storming the train and opened fire on the locomotive, injuring the driver. The train, stopped just before a tunnel, was hijacked in a remote, mountainous region near the Afghanistan-Iran border.

After security forces launched the operation on Tuesday, the militants split into small groups.

Navigating the difficult terrain, security forces cordoned off the area upon receiving word of the attack, they said, adding that despite the challenging route, forces reached the scene in the Mushqaf area of the Bolan district to initiate the operation.

Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X that he had spoken to the Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti and been briefed on the operation.

“The entire nation is deeply shocked by this dastardly act and saddened by the loss of innocent lives — such cowardly acts will not shake Pakistan’s resolve for peace,” the PM wrote.

“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs … and [may God] and bless those injured with a swift recovery. Dozens of the terrorists have been sent to hell,” he added.

Emergency measures

The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures, and all institutions have been mobilised to deal with the situation, spokesperson Shahid Rind said.

A relief train and contingents of security forces were also dispatched to the site. Meanwhile, an emergency was imposed in Sibi and Civil Hospital Quetta.

According to the provincial health department, all medical and paramedical staff were summoned to Civil Hospital and several wards were vacated to deal with the situation.

Following the incident, an emergency information desk was established at Quetta Railway Station. A railway official was appointed to share relevant developments regarding the Jaffar Express incident. 

'It was terrifying'

One of the freed passengers thanked the forces for safely evacuating him from the hijacked train and acknowledged the efforts of the army and FC personnel in the security operation.

"There was gunfire, but by the grace of Allah, the army and FC personnel brought us to safety," said one of the rescued passengers.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Bilal, who had been travelling with his mother on the Jafar Express train, told AFP: "I can't find the words to describe how we managed to escape. It was terrifying."

Meanwhile, railway officials said that the Bolan Mail and Jaffar Express, operating from Quetta to other parts of the country, have been suspended for three days.

Additionally, the passenger train from Quetta to Chaman has also not yet departed, railway officials stated.

— With additional details from AFP and APP