Security forces successfully eliminated 30 militants and rescued over 150 hostages during a clearance operation following a deadly terrorist attack on a Peshawar-bound train in Balochistan’s Bolan district, as per the report on Wednesday.
The Jaffar Express, carrying over 400 passengers in nine bogies, was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar when it was ambushed in the Dhadar area of Bolan Pass on Tuesday, according to security officials.
Armed attackers stopped the train in a remote, mountainous region before launching their attack. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, which is part of the rising violence in the province.
Security sources confirmed that the terrorists were in communication with their handlers in Afghanistan.
The attackers exploded explosives on the railway track, forcing the train to stop, after which they carried aboard and opened fire, tragically killing the train driver and several passengers.
Authorities revealed that mobile networks were down in the area, making communication difficult.
In response to the incident, a help desk was set up to assist passengers and families, while trains from Peshawar and Quetta were stopped at Sibi station for security reasons.
Following the attack, Pakistan Railways suspended all train services from Quetta to other parts of the country until further notice.
Security sources have also reported that Indian and anti-state elements are actively spreading misinformation and propaganda about the attack through old videos, AI-generated content, and fake social media posts.
The aim appears to be to incite panic and destabilize public confidence.
It was further revealed that accounts linked to terrorist groups are collaborating with Indian media to spread anti-Pakistan narratives, while misleading analyses from self-exiled Baloch leaders are being used to shape public opinion.
Officials have urged people to verify news from credible sources rather than falling for fake propaganda.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, calling the targeting of innocent passengers inhumane and unacceptable.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the terrorists, stating: “The beasts who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions.” He also wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The attack has raised serious concerns regarding the security of train routes passing through remote areas.
However, authorities have assured the public that enhanced security measures will be implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.
This tragic event follows another deadly attack in November last year, when a suicide bombing at Quetta railway station killed at least 26 people, including 16 security personnel, and injured 61 others.
The suicide bomber had exploded explosives on the platform where passengers were waiting for the Jaffar Express.