Bolan Train Hijack: 27 Terrorists Killed, Operation Ongoing. Security forces have successfully killed 27 terrorists who hijacked the Jaffar Express in Balochistan’s Bolan district, vowing to free 155 hostages and continue the operation until the last militant is eliminated.
The train, carrying 400 passengers in nine bogies, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar on Tuesday when an unknown number of terrorists took the passengers hostage, security sources said.
Security sources said forces were continuing operations to recover the remaining hostages. They said the terrorists, some of whom were wearing suicide vests, were using the passengers as human shields, security sources revealed.
The sources added that security forces were proceeding with extreme caution due to the presence of hostages.
One of the released passengers thanked the forces for safely removing him from the hijacked train and appreciated the efforts of the army and FC personnel in the security operation.
“There was firing but by the grace of Allah, the army and FC personnel brought us to safety,” said one of the rescued passengers.
Meanwhile, railway officials said that the Bolan Mail and Jafar Express, which run from Quetta to other parts of the country, have been suspended for three days. According to railway officials, the decision to suspend the train service was taken after the attack on the Jafar Express in Bolan.
Moreover, the passenger train from Quetta to Chaman has not left yet, railway officials said.
Earlier, railway officials had informed that 57 passengers rescued from the Jafar Express were taken to Quetta on Wednesday morning, while 23 remained in the fishpond.
Security sources said that after the security forces launched the operation on Tuesday, the militants split into small groups. Seventeen injured passengers were taken to a nearby hospital for immediate medical attention.
Patrolling the difficult terrain, security forces cordoned off the area after receiving information about the attack, they said, adding that despite the difficult route, the forces reached the scene in Mushaf area of Bolan district of Balochistan to launch the operation.
Sources further revealed that the attackers were using satellite phones to contact international handlers including the mastermind in Afghanistan and were using women and children as human shields, forcing them to exercise extreme caution in the operation.
Before storming the train, the attackers bombed the railway track and opened fire on the engine, injuring the driver. The train, which was stopped just before a tunnel, was hijacked in a remote mountainous area near the Afghanistan-Iran border.
Emergency measures
Spokesman Shahid Rind said that the Balochistan government has implemented emergency measures, and all institutions have been mobilized to deal with the situation.
A relief train and security forces contingents have also been dispatched to the scene.
Meanwhile, emergency has been imposed in Sibi and Civil Hospital Quetta.
According to the provincial health department, all medical and paramedical staff have been called to the civil hospital and several wards have been evacuated to deal with the situation.
An emergency information desk has been set up at Quetta Railway Station after the incident.
A railway official has been appointed to inform about the relevant developments regarding the Jafar Express incident.
Condemnation is pouring in
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Jafar Express and praised the security forces for their effective and timely response.
The President praised the bravery of the security forces in rescuing the passengers of the Jafar Express and said that attacks on innocent citizens and passengers are inhuman and condemnable acts.
He added that the Baloch nation strongly opposes those elements who took unarmed passengers, elders and children hostage.
President Zardari said that neither any religion nor any society allows such hateful acts. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the attack.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister said that the officers and men of the forces are heroically eliminating the terrorists during the ongoing counter-operation.
He added that despite the difficult terrain, the morale of the security forces is high and they are pushing back the cowardly terrorists with their timely action.
A press release issued by the PM Office Media Wing said that Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed hope that the security operation will soon be successful and the terrorists will be eliminated.
He said that the inhuman terrorists who carried out the cowardly attack on the Jaffar Express at Dhadhar Bolan Pass do not deserve any concession. The terrorists are enemies of the progress and prosperity of the province of Balochistan.
The Prime Minister said that by targeting innocent passengers in the holy and blessed month of Ramadan, it has become clear that the terrorists have no connection with Islam, Pakistan and Balochistan.
He also expressed the resolve of continuation of fight against terrorism till complete eradication of this specter from the country.
Any conspiracy to spread chaos and lawlessness in the country would be foiled, he said, adding that they would never allow enemies of the country to succeed in their nefarious designs.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack and prayed for the early recovery of the injured people. He added: “Beasts who opened fire on innocent passengers deserve no leniency.”
“Terrorists are the biggest threat to Pakistan,” said Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari while condemning the attack on the passenger train.
“Targeting innocent citizens by terrorists is a coward act,” he added.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur also condemned the Jaffar Express incident and expressed concern for the safety of the train passengers taken hostage in Balochistan. He expressed wishes for their safe recovery.
Awami National Party (ANP) President Aimal Wali Khan said that attacks on innocent citizens are unacceptable and demanded strict action against the terrorists.
The country witnessed a sharp increase in terror attacks in January 2025, surging by 42% compared to the previous month, according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank.
The data revealed that at least 74 militant attacks were recorded nationwide, resulting in 91 fatalities, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants. Another 117 individuals sustained injuries, including 53 security forces personnel, 54 civilians, and 10 militants.
Balochistan also experienced a surge in militant activity, with at least 24 attacks, which claimed 26 lives, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and nine militants.
