Pakistan’s security forces successfully rescued hostages and killed all 33 militants involved in the deadly train hijacking in Balochistan, a senior army official confirmed on Wednesday. The operation, which lasted nearly 24 hours, came after militants derailed and seized control of the Jaffar Express, killing 21 passengers and four paramilitary soldiers.
“The armed forces successfully concluded the operation in the evening by killing all 33 militants and rescuing all passengers safely,” said Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif, Pakistan Army spokesperson, in an interview with Dunya News.
Also read: Pakistan train hijack: All hostages freed, 33 BLA militants killed, claims army
The Jaffar Express, carrying 440 passengers, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) targeted it near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri, about 160 kilometers from Quetta. The militants used explosives to derail the train and then took passengers hostage, using women and children as human shields.
A carefully executed rescue operation
Lt Gen Sharif detailed how security forces, including the army, air force, frontier corps, and special services group commandos, coordinated a high-risk rescue operation.
“The rescue operation began immediately,” he said, emphasising that extreme caution was required as the BLA militants remained in contact with their facilitators and masterminds in Afghanistan via satellite phones.
Due to the presence of women and children, security forces had to proceed with precision. Snipers neutralised the suicide bombers first ensuring they could not detonate their vests. Forces then cleared each train compartment step by step, eliminating all militants without harming any hostages.
“The operation was conducted with extreme precision and caution,” Sharif told Duniya News. “Since the terrorists were using passengers as human shields, we had to ensure their safety at all costs,” he said.
‘A scene that can never be forgotten’
Survivors of the attack recounted horrific scenes of violence. Mushtaq Muhammad, one of the rescued passengers, told BBC Urdu, “There was a huge explosion and firing… It was a scene that can never be forgotten.”
Another passenger, Ishaq Noor, who was traveling with his wife and two children, described how the first explosion shook the train, causing his child to fall from his seat. “Seeing the bullets hitting the coaches, I pulled one of my children under me while my wife did the same with our other child. If a bullet hit us, at least the children would be saved,” he said.
Eyewitnesses said that militants checked identity cards, separating certain individuals. Mushtaq recounted, “Three militants were guarding the doors of our coach. They told us they would not harm civilians, women, elderly people, or Baloch passengers.”
As the standoff continued, militants gradually released some hostages. “In the evening, they told us they were letting Baloch, women, children, and elderly passengers go,” said Ishaq.
‘Train attack has changed rule of the game’
Following the rescue operation, Lt Gen Sharif issued a stern warning: “The train attack has changed the rule of the game.”
“We cannot allow anyone to target Pakistanis on behalf of their foreign paymasters,” he declared, vowing to hunt down the militants and their facilitators wherever they are.
Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for their successful operation, stating: “This terrorist attack is a tragic and heartbreaking incident. Every citizen is deeply saddened. Using innocent children and women as human shields is an utterly inhumane act.”
Naqvi further vowed that “the facilitators of these terrorists will also be dealt with an iron hand.”