In a dramatic turn of events, security forces have killed 30 militants and rescued over 190 passengers following a deadly attack on the Jaffar Express, a passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar.
The attack occurred on Tuesday in the Dhadar area of Bolan Pass, Balochistan, when heavily armed terrorists stormed the train with over 400 people on board.
The assailants, believed to be from the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), halted the train after bombing the railway tracks. The explosion caused the train to come to a stop, at which point the attackers opened fire, resulting in the deaths of several passengers, including the train driver. Authorities have confirmed that the terrorists were in communication with their mastermind, located in Afghanistan.
The attack, which took place in a remote, mountainous region, left the passengers trapped with no immediate means of communication as mobile networks were down. Railway officials reported that the lack of communication delayed the rescue efforts, but once the security forces were alerted, a swift clearance operation was launched. Over 150 hostages were rescued, and 30 terrorists were killed during the operation.
As the situation unfolded, security forces engaged in intense firefights with the militants, who had boarded the train and taken control of part of the vehicle. The operation is ongoing as forces continue to secure the area and ensure the safety of remaining passengers.
In response to the attack, railway authorities have set up a help desk for passengers seeking information, and train services from Peshawar and Quetta have been temporarily halted at the Sibi station.
The BLA, which has claimed responsibility for the attack, is a militant group known for its violent opposition to the government of Pakistan and its operations in the resource-rich Balochistan province. This assault marks another chapter in the ongoing conflict in the region, where insurgent groups have carried out frequent attacks against security forces and infrastructure.
The full extent of the casualties and the damage caused by the bombing is still being assessed.
