Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued his official statement on the hijack of the Jaffar Express which was carrying some 400 passengers in nine coaches. The train was going from Quetta to Peshawar when Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants derailed it using explosives and hijacked it near the mountainous terrain of Gudalar and Piru Kunri in a tunnel 160 kilometres from Quetta.

In his post on X, Sharif wrote, “Spoke with Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti who briefed me on the latest developments in the heinous terrorist attack on Jaffar Express. The entire nation is deeply shocked by this dastardly act and saddened by the loss of innocent lives—such cowardly acts will not shake Pakistan’s resolve for peace. I offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of the martyrs. May Allah grant them the highest ranks in Jannah and bless those injured with a swift recovery. Dozens of the terrorists have been sent to hell.”

Pakistani security forces have killed all militants who were holding hostages after seizing control of a train in the restive Balochistan, the state-run media reported on Wednesday. Security sources said that some of the hostages were dead.

The BLA claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday when they said they killed six soldiers. However, there has been no confirmation from the Pakistani authorities on casualties of passengers or security personnel.

According to defence sources, the operation of the security forces against the terrorists has entered its final stages. A large number of hostage passengers, including women and children, who were being used as human shields, have been rescued.

The security forces had earlier rescued 190 passengers during an operation.
Citing security sources, state-run Radio Pakistan confirmed that all terrorists present at the scene have been killed in the military operation.

The number of the passengers, who were killed at the beginning of the attack, was being determined, it added.

During the clearance operation, extreme caution and skill were demonstrated to save innocent lives, it said.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry told the Geo News that 70-80 militants were involved in the attack on the train. He also warned against the fake news, saying that no mobile internet network was working in the area and all video clips being circulated on the media in Pakistan and elsewhere were fake.

He said that the passengers included civilians, government employees and security personnel.

With PTI Inputs