On Wednesday, security sources confirmed that at least 27 terrorists were killed, and 155 passengers were safely rescued as the operation against the attackers of the Jaffar Express entered its second day. The attack, which occurred on Tuesday, involved terrorists who blew up a railway track and opened fire on a passenger train in Balochistan. The attackers then took dozens of hostages, engaging in a deadly battle with security forces trying to rescue the captives.
The incident took place around 1:00 PM local time (0800 GMT) in the rural Sibi district, near a city station where the train was scheduled to make a stop. The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar—a journey lasting over 30 hours—was ambushed as it neared its destination.
Although police did not disclose the exact number of hostages, the attackers claimed to be holding 214 passengers and threatened to execute them if their demands were not met. Senior police officer Rana Dilawar confirmed that the train remained at the site, with armed militants holding the passengers hostage. He stated that security forces had launched a large-scale operation, deploying helicopters and special forces to secure the area.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a terrorist group, claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that they blew up the tracks and seized control of the train. They demanded the release of Baloch political prisoners and activists within 48 hours, threatening to execute 10 hostages and destroy the train if their demands were not met. The BLA also claimed that some of the hostages included military personnel and security officials.
In the midst of the crisis, the terrorists positioned suicide bombers among the hostages, using them as human shields. Reports also indicated that the train became trapped in a tunnel, and the driver was killed. The BLA further warned that if the military intervened, all hostages would be executed.
Security forces managed to rescue 104 passengers, and while 17 individuals were injured, they were promptly taken to the hospital. The operation continued into the night, with authorities confirming the death of 16 militants and surrounding the remaining terrorists. Officials promised that the operation would persist until all attackers were eliminated.
In response to the attack, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the assault, calling it a cowardly and inhumane act. The President emphasized that such attacks on civilians, especially the elderly, women, and children, were against Balochistan’s values and traditions. Prime Minister Sharif assured the public that security forces were taking swift action and would soon resolve the situation.
The attack, occurring during the holy month of Ramadan, underscored the brutal and senseless nature of the terrorists’ actions, with both leaders asserting that such groups were enemies of Balochistan’s peace and development.
