Security forces kill at least 16 terrorists, rescue 104 train passengers of Jaffer Express

QUETTA: At least 16 terrorists have been killed and 104 hostages, including women and children, were freed by security forces on Tuesday after a group of terrorists took passengers of the Jaffar Express hostage in Balochistan's Bolan area, said security sources.  

The train, with over 400 passengers on board in nine bogies, was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it came under attack, according to security sources.

Among those rescued are 58 men, 31 women and 15 children. Security sources added that forces are continuing the operation to rescue the other hostages.

Following the security forces' operation, the militants split into small groups, security sources said, adding that the injured passengers were shifted to a nearby hospital for immediate medical treatment.

The attackers are communicating with their international handlers via satellite phones, said sources.

After security forces received word of the attack, they proceeded to the area with much difficulty due to the difficult terrain and cordoned off the area.

Security sources said that the terrorists behind the attack are in contact with their mastermind in Afghanistan and are using women and children as human shields. 

The operation is being carried out with extreme caution due to the presence of civilians onboard.

Security sources elaborated that the operation is further complicated by the difficult terrain of the area.

The train was stopped after a portion of the track was blown up by the terrorists, said security forces, adding that they also opened fire on the locomotive, injuring the driver.

Security officials present on the train and the attackers also reportedly exchanged fire.

The terrorists then took control of the train in a tunnel. The area is mountainous near the Afghan border.

"Over 450 passengers onboard are being held hostage by gunmen," Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway government official in Quetta, the capital of the province, told AFP.

"Passengers include women and children," he added.

Security sources added that despite the challenging route, forces reached the scene in the Mushqaf area of the Bolan district of Balochistan to initiate the operation.

Emergency measures

The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures, and all institutions have been mobilised to deal with the situation, spokesperson Shahid Rind said.

A relief train and contingents of security forces were also dispatched to the site.

Meanwhile, emergency has been imposed in Sibi and Civil Hospital Quetta.

According to the provincial health department, all medical and paramedical staff have been summoned to Civil Hospital and several wards were vacated to deal with the emergency situation.

Following the train firing incident, an emergency information desk has been established at Quetta Railway Station.

A railway official was appointed to share relevant developments regarding the Jaffar Express incident.

Condemnations pour in

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif have strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Jaffar Express and praised the security forces for their effective and timely response.

The president lauded the valour of security forces for rescuing the passengers of Jaffar Express and said that attacks on innocent civilians and passengers were inhuman and condemnable acts.

The Baloch nation strongly opposed those elements who had taken unarmed passengers, elders and children as hostage, he added.

President Zardari said neither any religion nor a society allowed such repugnant acts. He also prayed for the early recovery of those who sustained injuries during the attack.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said that security forces officers and personnel were eliminating terrorists with bravely and professional capabilities during the ongoing response.

He said despite difficult terrain, the morale of the security forces was high and they were pushing back the coward terrorists with their timely action.

PM Shehbaz expressed the hope that the security operation would soon meet with success and the terrorists would be eliminated, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

He said that inhuman terrorists who launched the cowardly assault at Jaffar Express at Dhdhar-Bolan Pass did not deserve any concession. Terrorists were the enemies of progress and development of Balochistan province.

The premier said targeting of innocent passengers in the holy and blessed month of Ramadan proved it clearly that terrorists had no relation 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 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.