Train Attack in Balochistan: Gunmen Target Jaffar Express, Hostages Taken

• Location: The train was intercepted near Tunnel No. 8 in Bolan district, Balochistan, Paksitan
• Casualties: The driver sustained injuries, but no immediate fatalities were reported.
• Hostage Situation: Security sources confirmed that militants took passengers hostage, including women and children.
• Response: Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a clearance operation. Hospitals in Sibi and Quetta were placed on high alert, with ambulances and a relief train dispatched to the scene.

Quetta, Balochistan: In a brazen act of terrorism, unidentified gunmen attacked the Jaffar Express, a passenger train traveling from Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The attack occurred near the town of Mach, in the Gudar-Lar and Piro Kanri area, leaving the train driver injured and hundreds of passengers held hostage.

According to Dawn News, the assailants intercepted the train near Tunnel No. 8 in the Bolan district, opening fire and forcing the train to halt. The Jaffar Express, consisting of nine carriages and carrying approximately 500 passengers, was targeted in a remote and mountainous region, making rescue operations challenging.

Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a clearance operation to rescue the hostages, many of whom are reported to be women and children. Emergency measures have been enforced in hospitals across Sibi, and ambulances have been dispatched to the scene. However, the difficult terrain has hampered rescue efforts.

Railway officials confirmed the attack, stating that the train driver was wounded in the firing. Security forces are engaged in heavy gunfire with the attackers, who are believed to have links with foreign facilitators. Authorities have also deployed a relief train to assist in the rescue mission.

The Balochistan government spokesperson, Shahid Rind, emphasized that all relevant agencies are on high alert and urged the public to remain calm and avoid spreading rumors. Meanwhile, the Civil Hospital in Quetta has also been placed on emergency standby, with medical staff called in to handle potential casualties.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack, calling the perpetrators “savages” who deserve no mercy. He expressed solidarity with the victims and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

This incident is the latest in a series of terrorist activities targeting Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Recent weeks have seen a surge in violence, including attacks on a jewelry shop in Hub, the assassination of political leaders in Khuzdar, and the destruction of vehicles on the Coastal Highway. Security forces have reportedly arrested several terrorists and foiled multiple plots, but the region remains volatile.

Security sources have also highlighted evidence of cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan, with four terrorists recently arrested near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Toba Kakar. The suspects were found in possession of Kalashnikov rifles, hand grenades, and other weapons, and reportedly confessed to planning major terrorist operations.

As the situation unfolds, authorities are working to secure the release of the hostages and neutralize the threat. The attack underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Pakistan in combating terrorism and ensuring the safety of its citizens.