(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
ISLAMABAD (TNS) Pakistan is a victim of cross-border terrorism, security forces are determined to eliminate all forms of terrorism, On March 11, 2025, heavily armed terrorists attacked the Jaffar Express from Quetta to Peshawar near Sibi. After blowing up the railway track, the terrorists took control of the train and took hostages, using the passengers, including women, children and the elderly, as human shields. The security forces immediately retaliated to the situation. Displaying unwavering courage and professionalism, our brave troops dealt with the terrorists with precision. The security forces successfully eliminated all 33 terrorists, including the suicide bombers, while rescuing the hostages in stages after a long, intense and courageous operation. Tragically, during this intense standoff phase, the terrorists took the lives of 21 innocent hostages even before the clearance operation could begin.
Moreover, 4 brave soldiers of the security forces made eternal sacrifice and embraced martyrdom. Pakistan’s security forces extended support to the families of the victims and the rescued hostages. The perpetrators of this heinous act should be brought to justice. Intelligence reports have clearly confirmed that the attack was planned and directed by terrorist leaders operating from Afghanistan, who were in direct contact with the terrorists throughout the incident. Pakistan expects the Afghan government to fulfill its responsibilities and refuse to use its territory for terrorist acts against Pakistan. The security forces are steadfast in their commitment to eliminate all forms of terrorism. The sacrifices of innocent civilians and our brave soldiers further strengthen our unwavering resolve to protect our nation at all costs. Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan has said that Afghan soil was used in the attack on the Jafar Express, while traces of contacts with Afghanistan were found in the traced calls during this incident. During the weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said that Pakistan is a victim of cross-border terrorism, the terrorists involved in the attack on the Jafar Express had contacts with foreign countries. The Pakistani government is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy, we have just completed the rescue operation on the Jafar Express train terrorism, in the past too we have been sharing full details of such incidents with Afghanistan. Shafqat Ali Khan said that our main priority for Afghanistan is the promotion of friendly and close relations, continuity of relations in this direction is important, he said that India has been involved in terrorism in Pakistan, there has been no change in our policy in this regard. The Foreign Office spokesperson said that we want to keep the Torkham border open. It is propaganda that Pakistan is not allowing the Torkham border to open. Afghanistan was trying to set up a checkpoint inside the Pakistani border. The Director General (DG) of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistan Army, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has said that the hostage passengers of the Jafar Express have been rescued and all 33 terrorists have been killed. However, before the operation began, the terrorists martyred 21 civilians.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that on March 11, at around 1 am, terrorists blew up the railway track in the Osipur area of Bolan Pak. The Jafar Express train was coming there. According to railway officials, there were 440 passengers in the train. He said that this is a difficult area, the terrorists first used the hostages as human shields, including women and children, the rescue operation was started immediately, in which the army, air force, frontier corps and SSG personnel participated. The DG ISPR said that the hostages were released in stages, these terrorists remained in touch with their facilitators and mastermind in Afghanistan through satellite phones during the operation, until yesterday evening, about 100 passengers were safely rescued from the terrorists. He said that today also a large number of hostage passengers, including women and children, were rescued and this process continued from time to time, when the final clearance operation was carried out in the evening, all the kidnapped passengers were rescued, because these terrorists were using the passengers as human shields, so this operation was carried out with utmost skill and caution. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif said that first the forces’ snipers killed the suicide bombers, then they cleared the train from train to train in stages and all the terrorists present there were killed. He said that all the terrorists present there have been killed, and their total number is 33. No innocent passenger was harmed during the clearance operation, but the number of passengers who fell victim to the brutality of the terrorists and were martyred before the clearance operation is 21.
The DG ISPR further said that in addition, 3 FC personnel posted at the railway picket were martyred, while one FC personnel was martyred during the operation yesterday. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif said that all the terrorists present at the scene have been killed.He said that in addition to this, the kidnapped passengers who fled to the right and left areas during the operation are also being collected. I would like to say that no one can be allowed to target innocent citizens of Pakistan on the roads, in trains, in buses or in the markets on the orders and facilitation of their misleading ideologies and their foreign masters. He said that those who do this, let me make it very clear that they will be killed and brought to justice. I also want to say that the Jafar Express incident has changed the rules of the game, because these terrorists have no connection with the religion of Islam, Pakistan and Balochistan. He said that before the final clearance operation, our soldiers first eliminated the suicide bombers, after which the hostages fled from there, similarly, the party that was conducting the operation went to the bogie and first killed the suicide bombers there too, after which they were taken from the bogie. The bogie was cleared. DG ISPR said that therefore, no passenger was harmed during the clearance operation, including children and women. The Pakistan Air Force was fully involved in this operation and had full support in this operation. He said that the operation has been carried out in a very professional manner, and all 33 terrorists have been killed. Talking about the role of social media, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that it is worth noting that as soon as an incident happens, within a few minutes, not only misleading reporting of the incident starts in the Indian media, but also old photos, old footages and videos and images made with artificial intelligence are also started being broadcast. He said that this shows that the nexus between terrorists and their masters becomes clear to the whole world, it was clear before, when the Kulbhushan Jadhav incident happened, how they are promoting terrorism in Balochistan. The interesting thing is that in Pakistan too, some specific political elements are also actively activating their social media, and instead of standing by the side of the state of Pakistan, they seem to be creating baseless justifications for this heinous act of terrorism. He said that it is very regrettable that some elements in the lust for personal power are also sacrificing national interest, we should know that the conscious people of Pakistan are not only seeing all these things but are also understanding the complex hands behind the chaotic politics. DG ISPR said that legally, who is responsible for internal public order and law enforcement, those who make such false statements to mislead the public, should first understand the law in this matter, what the constitution and the law say in this matter. The spokesperson of the Pakistan Army said that the second thing is that this terrorism, 107 intelligence-based operations are carried out by the Pakistani army on a daily basis, our martyrdoms and sacrifices are a symbol of resistance in front of this nation and the whole world. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the real question that is behind misleading propaganda is this, it should be told that all the factors that are necessary for the elimination of terrorism, and in which the political and social context has to take the lead, what should be done with it. He said that for example, there is a terror crime nexus in Pakistan, what are the circumstances of this matter, for example, according to the law, terrorists should be given the strictest punishment, where do we stand there? Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, in separate statements, paid tribute to the Pakistan Army and security forces for completing the Jafar Express operation and rescuing the hostages. President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to the security forces for completing the Jafar Express operation, he expressed deep sorrow and regret over the martyrdom of 21 civilians and 4 FC soldiers during the operation. In his statement, President Asif Ali Zardari praised the bravery of the forces for killing 33 terrorists in an effective operation by the security forces, the President appreciated the professionalism of the security forces for rescuing the civilians and passengers. The President paid tribute to 4 FC soldiers for their martyrdom. Later, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif paid tribute to the Pakistan Army and security forces for completing the Jaffar Express operation and rescuing the hostages. The Prime Minister said that the operation was carried out with utmost skill, our brave soldiers and officers showed bravery and courage, killing 33 terrorists. Shahbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of security forces soldiers and train passengers in the operation, the Prime Minister prayed for forgiveness for the martyrs and for patience and perseverance for the families. The Prime Minister said that those who harm the lives and property of unarmed and innocent citizens have nothing to do with Islam and this country, and we are determined to defeat those who attack innocent citizens on all fronts. Shahbaz Sharif said that our war against terrorists will continue until the complete eradication of terrorism from the country, Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif will visit Balochistan tomorrow to express solidarity with the citizens of Balochistan and in view of the security situation. Meanwhile The National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the hijacking of the Jafar Express. The resolution was presented in the National Assembly by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr. Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
The resolution has the signatures of members of all political parties, including the opposition. According to the text of the resolution, we strongly condemn the hijacking of the Jafar Express and all acts of terrorism that endanger the lives of citizens and disrupt the peace of the country. The nation is determined to take all possible steps to eliminate terrorism. The resolution states that no group or individual will be allowed to harm the peace, prosperity and sovereignty of the country, and no one will be allowed to spread fear, hatred or violence within the territorial boundaries of the country. The resolution further states that no terrorist activity will be allowed in any part of the country, and we pledge to work tirelessly to uproot terrorism. According to the resolution, the House thanks the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in this tragic incident, pays tribute to the Pakistan Army, FC and other law enforcement agencies for their unwavering commitment, bravery and sacrifices made to protect the lives of citizens and safeguard the integrity of Pakistan, their heroic efforts in neutralizing the terrorists involved in this incident reflect the determination and preparedness of our security forces. The resolution states that the people of Pakistan should unite in the fight against terrorism indiscriminately, extremism in all its forms should be rejected and the peace, security and prosperity of our nation should be ensured for generations to come.
