The Pakistan Army announced on Wednesday that the Jaffar Express hostage-rescue operation in Balochistan was successfully completed, with all 33 terrorists killed and hostages freed. The operation, involving units from the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Special Services Group (SSG), army, and Frontier Corps (FC), was launched after militants affiliated with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the Peshawar-bound train, taking over 400 passengers hostage.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed the operation’s success, stating, “All 33 terrorists have been sent to hell… no harm caused to any passenger during the clearance operation.” However, he revealed that 21 passengers were martyred by the terrorists before the operation began.
The militants had blown up a railway track in Bolan on March 11, stopped the Jaffar Express, and used passengers, including women and children, as human shields. “The terrorists remained in contact with their facilitators and mastermind based in Afghanistan via satellite phone during the clearance operation,” Lt Gen Chaudhry added.
Security forces faced a complex situation as the attackers had placed hostages in groups with suicide bombers among them. “The suicide bombers were taken out by security forces snipers,” he said. Around 100 passengers were rescued on Tuesday evening, with more recovered on Wednesday.
Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized, “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, “Whoever does this, let me say it very clearly, will be hunted down and brought to justice. Let me also say that this incident of Jaffer Express changes the rules of the game.”
The ISPR chief reiterated that the terrorists had nothing to do with Islam, Pakistan, or Balochistan. Four FC personnel were also martyred during the operation. The bomb disposal squad is currently clearing the train and surrounding area as per standard operating procedures.
Also read: Terrorists attack Jaffar Express in Balochistan; Hostages taken
