State media reported on Wednesday that security forces had freed at least 155 passengers and killed 27 terrorists in a second day of rescue operations after terrorists seized the Jaffer Express train near Bolan, Balochistan.
Terrorists hijacked the Jaffer Express at the Mashkaf Tunnel, 157 kilometres from Quetta, on Tuesday, taking over 400 people, including security officials, hostage.
State-run Radio Pakistan said today that security sources said they had rescued 155 people, including women and children, from the terrorists.
Security sources reported that 27 terrorists had been killed by security troops while the operation to destroy the rest continued.
37 injured were taken to hospital, according to the report.
“The terrorists responsible for the cowardly attack on Jaffar Express are in contact with their facilitators in Afghanistan,” Radio Pakistan added.
“Terrorists have placed suicide bombers near innocent hostages. Security sources said suicide bombers wear explosive vests.
Report: “In anticipation of possible defeat, the terrorists are using innocent people as human shields.”
It said suicide bombers had “taken women and children hostage at three different locations” and that the operation was being undertaken with “utmost caution” because to their presence.
Security troops conducted a large operation in Bolan Pass’s Dhadar area to rescue the hostages, despite the area’s remoteness.
Officials reported at least 10 persons, including the locomotive driver and eight security guards, died in a gun duel.
It was unclear whether these people were released by kinetic military action or by the armed intruders.
Since terrorists had never hijacked a train before, the hijacking was unprecedented.
The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility and reported taking many hostages. The organisation also claimed to have released women and children, although these claims were unverifiable.
Mushkaf Tunnel region operations continued to find the other passengers and bring the attackers to justice.
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Today, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) expressed “grave concern” and urged the release of all hostages.
It alleged militants “hijacked the train after blowing up the rail track and several hundred passengers taken hostage”.
“We strongly urge all relevant stakeholders to forge an urgent rights-based, pro-people consensus on Balochistan’s citizens’ issues and find a peaceful, political solution,” the HRCP said.
It said the commission condemned “violence against unarmed civilians and noncombatants by state and non-state actors”.
Leaders including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and chief ministers denounced the incident.
President Zardari stated the “Baloch nation rejects those who attack and take hostages innocent passengers” while PM Shehbaz said the “beast terrorists” deserved no concession.
Operating with ‘extra care’
Imran Hayat, the Railways Divisional Superintendent (DS) in Quetta, reported that ten individuals, including the locomotive driver and eight security officers, died.
Security officials claimed the terrorists’ hostages necessitated extra caution in the rescue effort.
Security personnel moved 58 men, 31 women, and 15 children to Paneer railway station. While the remaining passengers are being rescued, a relief train moved them to Mach station.
The Jaffar Express left Quetta with 450 passengers, despite railway officials saying 750 were booked.
Over 200 security personnel were also on the train, sources claimed.
After armed militants ambushed the train in Mach, Balochistan, on March 12, 2025, Pakistani security troops released some passengers and secured Mach railway station. — AFP
The administration said an emergency was declared at Sibi hospital and ambulances and security forces were on their way to the scene.
“The incident’s scope and terrorist potential are being assessed. The Balochistan government has issued emergency measures, and all institutions are open, spokesperson Shahid Rind said.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told Geo News last night that terrorists were using many train passengers as human shields.
The state minister said security officers were stepping carefully because of the lives involved in the ongoing operation.
State media reported that security forces killed 13 terrorists by late Tuesday night, while the interior ministry rescued over 100 passengers.
Wednesday morning’s early update reported 16 assailants dead and 104 passengers rescued.
Attack near tunnel
The 450-passenger train left Quetta for Peshawar at 9am in nine bogies, according to railway officials They learnt the train was attacked between Paneer and Peshi railway stations near Railway Tunnel No 8 near Mushkaf at 1pm.
Quetta and Sibi are 157km and 21km from the Mashkaf Tunnel, respectively.
The Mashkaf Tunnel is one of several tunnels 157km from Quetta and 21km from Sibi.
Though mainly parallel in Bolan, the Quetta-Jacobabad N65 highway and railway line divide around Mashkaf.
From here, the railway line cuts into the highlands and follows the Bolan River, rejoining the main route around Mach.
The Mashkaf Tunnel is in a remote area, with Pehro Kunri as the nearest station. The next stop on the Quetta line is Paneer, just short of the Paneer Tunnel.
The locomotive stopped after armed men fired rockets and opened fire. Security forces and assailants exchanged fire, injuring the locomotive driver.
Attackers killed many security personnel and hijacked the train, according to reports. They then checked passengers’ identities and kidnapped some before fleeing.
Sources say a huge group of armed attackers with automatic weapons and rocket launchers hid in the highlands. Explosives damaged the railway line.
Due to security forces’ operation, terrorists divided into tiny groups, say sources. State media reported that injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital and that extra security units were involved in the operation.
