QUETTA: An unknown number of terrorists took passengers of the Jaffar Express hostage on Tuesday in Balochistan’s Bolan area, prompting a response by security forces.
The train, with over 400 passengers on board in nine bogies, was on its way from Quetta to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it came under attack, according to security sources.
Security forces cordoned off and surrounded the train, and a heavy exchange of fire is ongoing.
Security sources said that the terrorists behind the attack are in contact with their mastermind in Afghanistan and are using women and children as human shields.
The operation is being carried out with extreme caution due to the presence of civilians onboard.
Security sources elaborated that the operation is further complicated by the difficult terrain of the area.
The train was stopped after a portion of the track was blown up by the terrorists, said security forces, adding that they also opened fire on the locomotive, injuring the driver.
Security officials present on the train and the attackers also reportedly exchanged fire.
The terrorists then took control of the train in a tunnel. The area is mountainous near the Afghan border.
“Over 450 passengers onboard are being held hostage by gunmen,” Muhammad Kashif, a senior railway government official in Quetta, the capital of the province, told AFP.
“Passengers include women and children,” he added.
Security sources added that despite the challenging route, forces reached the scene in the Mushqaf area of the Bolan district of Balochistan to initiate the operation.
Emergency measures
The Balochistan government has imposed emergency measures, and all institutions have been mobilised to deal with the situation, spokesperson Shahid Rind said.
A relief train and contingents of security forces were also dispatched to the site.
Meanwhile, emergency has been imposed in Sibi and Civil Hospital Quetta.
According to the provincial health department, all medical and paramedical staff have been summoned to Civil Hospital and several wards were vacated to deal with the emergency situation.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the attack and prayed for early recovery of the injured people. He added: “Beasts who opened fire on innocent passengers deserve no leniency.”
Following the train firing incident, an emergency information desk has been established at Quetta Railway Station.
A railway official was appointed to share relevant developments regarding the Jaffar Express incident.
The country witnessed a sharp increase in terror attacks in January 2025, surging by 42% compared to the previous month, according to data released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think tank.
The data revealed that at least 74 militant attacks were recorded nationwide, resulting in 91 fatalities, including 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants. Another 117 individuals sustained injuries, including 53 security forces personnel, 54 civilians, and 10 militants.
Balochistan also experienced a surge in militant activity, with at least 24 attacks, which claimed 26 lives, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and nine militants.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.
