Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry announced on Wednesday that the clearance operation for the Jaffar Express, initiated the previous day following the unprecedented hijacking of the train in Balochistan, has been concluded. He stated that all 33 terrorists present at the site of the attack were neutralized.
On March 11 in Bolan, terrorists attacked a railway track at around 1 pm, causing an explosion to halt the Jaffar Express. According to railway officials, the train was carrying 440 passengers,” he explained during an interview on the Dunya News show ‘On the Front’.
Although the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, Lt Gen Chaudhry did not mention this. He mentioned that the location of the incident was challenging to access due to its remote proximity from civilization and road networks.
“The terrorists employed hostages, including women and children, as human shields, necessitating an immediate recovery operation,” he further elaborated.
Chaudhry stated that the army, air force, Frontier Corps (FC), and the Special Services Group participated in the operation and successfully recovered the hostages.
“These terrorists maintained contact with their supporters and masterminds in Afghanistan during the operation via satellite communication. Approximately 100 passengers were safely rescued yesterday evening, and today, further passengers have been recovered,” he noted, indicating that the process continued sporadically.
In a formal statement released shortly after Chaudhry’s address, ISPR affirmed the involvement of elements in Afghanistan in the attack, stating: ‘Intelligence reports have clearly confirmed that the attack was orchestrated and directed by leaders operating from Afghanistan, who maintained communication with the attackers throughout the incident. Pakistan expects the Interim Afghan Government to fulfill its obligations by preventing the use of its territory for terrorist activities against Pakistan.’
Providing further insight into today’s ‘final clearance operation,’ he stated, ‘All hostage passengers have been safely recovered. The operation was executed with exceptional skill and caution, given the terrorists’ use of hostages as human shields.’
When inquired if the operation concluded with all terrorists neutralized, the DG ISPR confirmed: ‘Yes, all terrorists present have been neutralized, and their total number was 33.’
He further mentioned that no passengers sustained injuries during the final clearance operation, however, ‘the number of passengers who lost their lives due to the terrorists’ brutality is 21.’
Lt Gen Chaudhry also reported the martyrdom of three FC personnel stationed at the railway picket and one FC soldier during yesterday’s operation. The ISPR later remarked that their ‘selfless actions preserved numerous lives and averted additional disaster.’
The head of the military’s media division added that the bomb disposal unit is continuing with clearance operations, inspecting the train and environs in accordance with standard protocols. The ISPR statement confirmed an ongoing sanitization operation in the vicinity, with a commitment that ‘abettors of this cowardly and heinous act will face justice.’
Furthermore, the DG ISPR indicated that the passengers who evaded to nearby areas during the operation are being gathered.