Survivors Recount Horrors of Pakistan’s Jaffar Express Train Hijacking
A deadly attack on the Jaffar Express train by Baloch separatists left 26 passengers dead and led to harrowing experiences for survivors. The assault, characterized by selective ethnic targeting, resulted in a military operation that rescued 346 individuals. Eyewitnesses recounted the violence, emphasizing the need for strengthened security in the region.
On Tuesday, Baloch separatists launched a deadly attack on the Jaffar Express passenger train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, resulting in numerous casualties and harrowing accounts from survivors. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) utilized rocket-propelled grenades and gunfire as the train traversed the Bolan Pass, with the assault occurring near Sibi city approximately 160 kilometers from Quetta.
The train commenced its journey from Quetta, en route to Peshawar, and was attacked around 1 PM local time. It covers over 1,600 kilometers, making multiple stops across Pakistan, with about 400 passengers aboard at the time of the incident. Following a military operation, security forces rescued 346 passengers but confirmed that 26 passengers, the train driver, and a paramilitary soldier lost their lives.
Eyewitnesses recounted traumatic experiences during their captivity. Ghulam Sarwar, an officer with the Pakistan Railways Police, described the attack as chaotic, with militants executing passengers selectively based on ethnicity. He detailed the scene as being engulfed in violence, stating, “It was like a rain of rockets and bullets on the train, but we retaliated with gunfire.”
Another survivor, Murad Ali, narrated his experience of escaping with his wife after being allowed to leave. He observed the chaos inside the train, with fighters targeting specific ethnic groups. His wife, Bibi Farzana, noted, “The train was entirely covered with smoke due to firing and explosions.”
In response to the incident, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti indicated that the attack aimed to portray Quetta as a violent region. The government has responded by increasing military presence in the area and sending additional support to the victims’ families.
The attack on the Jaffar Express reflects the ongoing violence driven by Baloch separatist movements in Pakistan. Survivors’ accounts detail horrific experiences of ethnic targeting and violence during the assault. The response from security forces was swift, ultimately securing the rescue of many passengers while acknowledging significant fatalities. This incident underscores the need for increased security measures and highlights the continuing strife in Balochistan amid separatist demands for independence.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
