Forces rescued Jaffar Express hostages unharmed in challenging operation: DG ISPR

QUETTA: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday said Pakistan forces rescued Jaffar Express hostages unharmed in one of the challenging operations, ARY News reported.

This he said while briefing the media on Jaffar Express hijacking incident flanked by Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti.

DG ISPR. Lt. General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said an IED explosion targeted the Jaffar Express around 1 PM on March 11, forcing the train to stop.

He said the BLA attackers, divided into multiple groups, first launched an assault on a nearby FC post, martyring three soldiers. Subsequently, one group held women and children hostage inside the train, while others forced passengers to disembark and gathered them on the ground.

DG ISPR revealed that the Jaffar Express incident occurred in a highly challenging and remote area, which complicated the security operation.

Read more: NA passes resolution condemning Jaffar Express attack

The Pakistan Army’s spokesperson said a small group of terrorists remained inside the train with a suicide bomber, while the rest fled to the mountains, taking hostages along with them.

However, on the morning of March 12, the Pakistan Army and FC successfully encircled the militants, the DG ISPR. “The elite Zarrar Company snipers first targeted the suicide bombers, allowing some passengers to escape in the chaos.”

The commandos then advanced from the engine side, systematically clearing each compartment of the train. The operation was executed with such precision that not a single hostage was harmed during the mission.

DG ISPR stated that the passengers who lost their lives had already been killed before the military intervention. Terrorists armed with foreign-made weapons fired on escaping passengers, but all militants around the train were eliminated.

The Pakistan Air Force played a pivotal role in the success of the 36-hour-long operation, conducted in a highly challenging and rugged terrain.

DG ISPR further stated that the Indian media portrayed the terrorist attack as a “heroic act” and spread false narratives through manipulated content to mislead the international community.

“A coordinated information warfare campaign was also launched from India, where old and AI-generated videos were used for propaganda after Jaffar Express attack.”

“The latest attack in Balochistan and other terrorist incidents that took place in the past…we understand that the main sponsor of these [attacks] is your eastern neighbour.”

Addressing the joint presser, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed gratitude to the international community for condemning the Jaffar Express incident and lauded the brave forces for conducting an extremely difficult operation.

Bugti asserted the banned BLA are terrorists and have no connection with the Baloch people. “As Baloch, we are the guardians of traditions.”