The Pakistan Army counterterrorism operation successfully rescued 300 hostages and eliminated 33 terrorists following the Jafar Express attack. Speaking on Wednesday night, Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif stated, “No one will be allowed to target innocent Pakistanis on roads, trains, buses, or markets under the influence of misguided ideologies and foreign sponsors.” He further emphasized that the Jafar Express incident would "change the game's rules." According to the Army spokesperson, terrorism in Pakistan continues to pose a grave threat, as militants killed 21 passengers, while four FC personnel casualties were also reported. However, the military has not confirmed any losses among its soldiers. This marks the Pakistan Army’s first official statement on the attack, a day after the Bolan Pass security breach. The spokesperson also confirmed all prior reports from security sources. The Jafar Express attack, which occurred while the train was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, involved 440 passengers when it was targeted on Tuesday in Dhadar, Baluchistan. Meanwhile, Baluchistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti condemned the attack, calling it "unacceptable," and stressed the need for tough decisions to restore law and order in the province. During a security meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary for Home Affairs briefed the Chief Minister on the Pakistan military operation against the terrorists. In his address, Sarfraz Bugti's statement emphasized "strict action against those responsible," declaring that "terrorists will not be allowed to occupy even an inch of land." He further added that the "aim of such attacks is to create an atmosphere of violence, but Pakistan will never be divided like a piece of cake." He concluded by urging a decisive stance, stating, "We must fight the war against terrorism without any confusion."
Jafar Express attack timeline. According to the DG ISPR, "On March 11, around 1 PM, terrorists initiated the Bolan Pass attack by blowing up the railway track in the Ossipur area, forcing the Jafar Express to stop. This marked the initial moments of the train attack and set the stage for a hostage situation." He further stated, "This is a rugged and remote area, far from any population or roads. The terrorists used the 440 passengers, including women and children, as human shields in what became a railway bombing and hostage crisis." The sequence of events in the Jafar Express attack unfolded with the train being halted, passengers taken hostage, and security forces responding to the terrorist assault on the railway track.
Hostage rescue operation in Bolan Pass began immediately, according to the military spokesperson. He stated that the Jafar Express hostage crisis response involved the Pakistan Army's rescue mission timeline, with participation from the Army, Air Force, Frontier Corps, and on the second day, SSG commandos in hostage rescue. The operation was executed in phases. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif revealed that during the operation, the terrorists were in contact with their facilitators and masterminds in Afghanistan via satellite phones. By Tuesday evening, nearly 100 passengers had been safely rescued from the terrorists. On Wednesday, a step-by-step breakdown of the rescue operation saw the safe evacuation of additional hostages, including many women and children. According to him, the military clearance operation in the Bolan attack was finalized on Wednesday evening. "Our snipers eliminated suicide bombers, and then each train carriage was cleared step by step, ensuring that all 33 terrorists were neutralized," he confirmed. The security forces' strategy in the Jafar Express attack ensured that no innocent passenger was harmed during the final clearance. However, before the operation, 21 passengers had already fallen victim to terrorist brutality. The operation was conducted with extreme caution to protect hostages. The terrorist standoff and rescue efforts resulted in the deaths of four Frontier Corps personnel, though the military spokesperson did not provide figures for other security forces' casualties.
Speaking to a private TV channel, the military spokesperson also played a video and stated that security sources had provided this information the previous day. He explained the details of the video being shown on the TV screen, saying, "You will see three colored blocks in the footage. This is the location we had informed you about through security sources, where the terrorists divided hostages into clusters. The hostage passengers grouped by terrorists were seated in different sections of the train to make the rescue operation more difficult." He further added, "Suicide bombers were seated in the middle of these groups, which is why we proceeded with extreme caution and precision." The passenger grouping strategy in the Jafar Express attack made it necessary for security forces to adopt a calculated approach. The spokesperson revealed that during the final clearance operation on Wednesday, SSG commandos eliminated the suicide bombers. Following the strategic hostage placement by militants, the hostages managed to escape. He continued, "The clearance operation teams first targeted and neutralized the suicide bombers inside the train carriages. Each carriage was cleared systematically, ensuring no passenger was harmed during the operation." The terrorists' tactic of grouping hostages forced security forces to adopt a step-by-step approach. He also highlighted that "The Pakistan Air Force provided full support for the operation, which was executed with high professionalism." The passenger division during the train siege was a key factor in the complexity of the operation, but ultimately, all terrorists were neutralized.
The military spokesperson claimed that no soldiers were killed during today’s clearance operation. Spokesperson Ahmed Sharif stated, “All terrorists present at the site have been eliminated. However, as per SOPs, the bomb disposal squad is ensuring area clearance and conducting a thorough inspection of the train.” He further added, “Passengers who fled to nearby areas during the operation are also being gathered as part of the ongoing hostage recovery operation.” Security forces are conducting final sweeps to verify safety, ensuring that no threats remain in the area.
Jafar Express attack shifting security dynamics. The military spokesperson stated, "No one will be allowed to target innocent Pakistani citizens on roads, trains, buses, or markets under the influence of misguided ideologies and at the behest of foreign sponsors and facilitators." Emphasizing the game-changing impact of Jafar Express attack, he stated that the incident would 'change the rules of the game.' Addressing the security implications of the Jafar Express attack, he criticized Indian media, stating that whenever such an incident occurs, old footage and images are shared to mislead the narrative. He further pointed out that certain political elements in Pakistan also activate their social media platforms in response to such incidents, undermining national stability. "It is disappointing that in their greed for political power, some elements are sacrificing national interests," he remarked, highlighting the strategic shift following Jafar Express attack and its broader consequences. During the interview, private TV anchor Kamran Shahid questioned the military's stance, asking whether Pakistan’s security policies after the Jafar Express attack were being overshadowed by political concerns. In response, the military spokesperson reaffirmed the military’s commitment to redefining counterterrorism approaches, stating, "The real question is: legally, who is responsible for law enforcement and internal security? Is it the military's duty? Those who mislead the public with false narratives should first understand the law themselves."
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