F.P. Repor
RAWALPINDI: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed on Wednesday that no passengers were harmed during the clearance operation conducted by security forces after terrorists hijacked the Jaffer Express in Balochistan’s Bolan district.
“All 33 terrorists have been sent to hell….four frontier corps personnel embraced martyrdom during the clearance operation,” the DG ISPR said while speaking to media.
Divulging details of the incident, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the terrorists targeted a railway track in Bolan on March 11, stopped Jaffar Express and took passengers hostage. “The militants used hostages, including women and children, as human shields,” he added.
Furthermore, he said that the attackers had placed the hostages in groups with suicide bombers sitting amongst them. The suicide bombers were taken out by security forces snipers,” he added. The DG ISPR confirmed that the terrorists were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan.
Earlier, the Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the bravery and efficiency of the security forces, stating that their timely action prevented a major tragedy. “Pakistan’s brave security forces have sent over 16 terrorists to hell and foiled their evil plans with courage,” he said. Naqvi condemned the attack on unarmed passengers, calling it an inhumane act.
“Those who target innocent civilians are enemies of the nation and the country,” he added. The minister further warned of a larger conspiracy to destabilize Pakistan through terrorism in Balochistan. “Enemy forces are using terrorism to create instability, but with the support of the nation, we will defeat every such plot,” he asserted. He also extended prayers for the speedy recovery of injured passengers and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring national security.
Pakistan Railways has established a help desk at Rawalpindi Railway Station to provide information about the victims of the Jaffar Express attack. A group of terrorists launched the attack on the Peshawar-Quetta Jaffar Express, leaving the driver with severe injuries in the Bolan Pass area of Balochistan, targeting innocent civilians. The militants detonated a bomb on the railway trackt and then took over around 400 passengers including women and children hostage.
According to Pakistan Railways’ spokesperson, families can get all necessary details from the desk, which is in direct contact with Quetta and Peshawar stations. Additionally, an emergency cell has been set up at Quetta Railway Station Inquiry Office for assistance.
Passengers and their families can get information by calling 0819201210, 0819201211, or 117. Meanwhile, train operations from Quetta have been temporarily suspended which will resume after security clearance.
President Asif Ali Zardari strongly condemned a terrorist attack on Jaffar Express in Balochistan province 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.
The president 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, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release.
The Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that security forces officers and personnel were eliminating terrorists with bravery and professional capabilities during the ongoing response.
This comes after terrorists attacked the Jaffar Express on Tuesday, taking hundreds of passengers hostage. The Prime Minister said despite difficult terrain, the morale of the security forces was high and they were pushing back the coward terrorists with their timely action.
The prime minister 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 prime minister said targeting of innocent passengers in the holy and blessed month of Ramazan ul Mubarak 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. The prime minister said in this fight against terrorism, the entire nation was standing shoulder to shoulder with their security forces.
