In Balochistan, Pakistan, rebels captured a train and killed four jawans of 21 passengers and paramilitary forces held hostage. A general of Pakistan Army gave this information on Wednesday.
Pakistan Army spokesman Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif told the TV channel ‘Duniya News’ that security forces killed all 33 rebels at the scene.
Lieutenant General Sharif said, “The armed forces killed all the terrorists and successfully completed the campaign in the evening today (Wednesday) by rescuing all the passengers.” He said that the rebels killed 21 passengers by attacking the train on Tuesday. He said that four personnel of the paramilitary force Frontier Corps were also killed in this incident.
33 killed terrorists
Lieutenant General Sharif said, “The army killed all 33 terrorists and rescued the hostages.” Officials said that the Jafar Express train was going to Peshawar with about 400 passengers in nine coaches, when the rebels used explosives and captured the train.
The ‘Balochistan Liberation Army’ (BLA) on Tuesday claimed responsibility for the attack and claimed to kill six soldiers.
On March 11, rebels trained hijack
Lieutenant General Sharif said that on March 11, at around 1 pm, the rebels exploded the railway track in the Bolan Pass area of ​​OCipur and took all the passengers in the train hostage.
He said, “The rescue operation was immediately started with the participation of commandos of the Army, Air Force, Frontier Core and Special Services Group.” He said that during the campaign, he remained in touch with its helpers and masters in Afghanistan via rebel satellite phones, which shows their foreign alliances. He said that it took time for the security forces to complete the campaign, because the terrorists were using the hostage as a human shield.
He said that by yesterday evening, about 100 passengers were safely rescued and a large number of hostages including women and children were freed on Wednesday.
He told ‘World News’, “The rescue operation continued, and all the remaining hostages were rescued safely this evening. Since terrorists were using passengers as a human shield, the campaign was carried out with great care.
All the rebels at the scene have been killed
Sharif said that all the rebels at the scene have been killed, although the area and the train are still being evacuated by the bomb disposal squad according to standard operating procedures. He said that efforts are on to gather passengers who have run in different directions during the campaign.
Earlier in the day, officials reported that some rebels wearing suicide jackets collected women and children and forced them to sit near them. He said that due to the presence of women and children with suicidal attackers, the campaign is being carried out very carefully.
Earlier, security sources had said that 30 rebels have been killed in the rescue operation so far while 190 passengers have been rescued. According to sources, about 30 injured have been sent to the hospital.
Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi appreciated the security forces for successfully saving all the hostages and killing all the 33 rebels involved in the attack.
According to BBC Urdu service, Mushtaq Muhammad said that when the militants attacked the train, there was a huge explosion and firing, a scene that could never be forgotten. Mushtaq was among the passengers who were rescued from the train.
This is the first time the BLA or any militant group in Balochistan province ‘hijacked the passenger train, although last year they increased attacks on security forces, establishments and foreigners in various parts of the province. Pakistan Railways resumed train services from Quetta to Peshawar after suspension of more than one and a half months.
American Embassy condemns
The US embassy in Islamabad strongly condemned the attack on the train and the incident of hostage of passengers. The embassy said, “We express our deep condolences to the victims, their families and all the people affected by this horrific act. Pakistani people are entitled to live a free life of violence and fear. “
The embassy said that America will remain a strong partner in Pakistan’s efforts to ensure the safety of all its citizens. According to the embassy, ​​”We are standing in solidarity with Pakistan in this difficult time.”
Senior officer of Peshawar railway station, Tariq Mahmood said that people should not pay attention to the rumors being spread through social media and other means.
Earlier, the BLA claimed that he took the train derailed and captured it. The group had claimed that it had killed six security personnel.
The BLA warned in a statement that if the Pakistan Army runs a campaign, “all the hostages will be killed.” This group is banned in Pakistan, Britain and America. In the last one year in Balochistan, there has been an increase in militant attacks.
In November last year, a suicide bomber blew himself up by a suicide bomb at Quetta railway station in which 26 people were killed and 62 others were injured. After this, the Railways postponed many services.