Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday that the clearance operation, launched after the Jaffar Express train was attacked and hijacked, has been completed with all terrorists present killed.
Speaking to a private news channel, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed the completion of the complex operation, explaining that units from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Special Services Group (SSG), army and Frontier Corps (FC) took part.
Several militants, affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), blew up a railway track and attacked 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, 21 passengers were martyred by the militants.
Revealing details of the incident, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the terrorists targeted a railway track in Bolan on March 11, stopped Jaffar Express and took passengers hostage. “The terrorists used hostages, including women and children, as human shields,” he added.
“The militants 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 militants present on the site of the incident were killed, however, the clearance of the train and area were being carried out by bomb disposal squad as per the standard operating procedure.
Besides this, Lt Gen Chaudhry said that hostages who escaped to nearby areas during the clearance operation were being gathered as well.
Explaining on the final clearance operation that was conducted earlier today, the DG ISPR said the armed forces cleared the all boogies one by one and “sent 33 terrorists to hell”.
“No one can be allowed to make innocent people of Pakistan the victim of their brutality 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 altered 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.
Compliments
Following the conclusion of the clearance operation, President Asif Ali Zardari appreciated the security forces for completing an operation against militants and releasing passengers of Jaffar Express who were taken as hostages.
The president expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of 21 civilians and 4 FC personnel. He praised the security forces for their effective response and killing 33 terrorists.
He paid tribute to four FC soldiers who embraced shahadat 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 grieving families to bear the losses with courage. He also expressed the determination to secure peace and the complete elimination of terrorism in Balochistan province.
Separately, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised 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 vibrant leadership of the Army Chief, adding the operation was conducted with brilliant skills.
He also announced to visit Balochistan tomorrow (Thursday) to express harmony 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 gallantry, 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 reiterated 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 have been freed after terrorists hijacked the Jaffar Express near Bolan district of Balochistan.
According to security sources, forces have rescued a large number of hostages, including women and children. The rescued civilians were being used as human shields by the militants.
During the operation, the security forces practiced extreme care because of the innocent lives involved. Meanwhile, 37 injured individuals have been 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, Khanewal, Sahiwal, Lahore, Jacobabad, Rohri, Khanpur, Bahawalpur, , Gujranwala and Islamabad.
The attackers bombed the railway track before invading 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.
when security forces launched the operation on Tuesday, the militants split into small groups, security sources said.
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 of Balochistan to initiate the operation.
Distinctly, 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 shameful act and saddened by the loss of innocent lives — such cowardly acts will not shake Pakistan’s determination for peace,” the PM wrote.
“I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs … and may ALLAH bless those injured with a swift recovery. Dozens of the terrorists have been sent to hell,” he added.
Emergency measures
Spokesperson Shahid Rind said, the Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures, and all institutions have been mobilised to deal with the situation,.
A relief train and groups of security forces were also dispatched to the site. Meanwhile, an emergency has been imposed in Sibi and Civil Hospital Quetta.
According to the provincial health department, several wards were vacated and all medical and paramedical staff have been summoned to Civil Hospital to deal with the situation.
Following the incident, an emergency information desk has been established at Quetta Railway Station. A railway official was appointed to share relevant information 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 rescue 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 postponed for three days.
