On Tuesday, the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan was attacked by Baloch separatists, leading to numerous fatalities among both attackers and passengers. Survivors described harrowing experiences of executions and escapes during the assault. The attack has raised serious security concerns, prompting governmental responses amid ongoing tensions in Balochistan.
On Tuesday, a group of Baloch separatist fighters attacked the Jaffar Express passenger train in Balochistan, Pakistan. The incident occurred near Sibi city, where the attackers utilized rocket-propelled grenades and firearms against the train, leading to a horrific scene described by survivors. Many passengers fled while being shot at during the ambush that took place as the train traversed the mountainous Bolan Pass.
The Jaffar Express, having departed from Quetta at 9 am for Peshawar, encountered the assault approximately 160 kilometers from its starting point around 1 pm. This train journey spans over 1,600 kilometers, with an estimated travel time of 30 hours, stopping at numerous stations along the route. Although security forces reportedly rescued 346 passengers and eliminated all 33 attackers, a tragic toll of 26 passengers, the train driver, and a paramilitary soldier were also lost.
Accounts from freed passengers detail a traumatic experience of witnessing executions. Ghulam Sarwar, an assistant subinspector of the Pakistan Railways Police, recounted the chaos: “It was like a rain of rockets and bullets on the train, but we retaliated with gunfire.” He described how the attackers segregated passengers based on ethnicity, specifically targeting and executing those identified as ethnic Punjabis or affiliated with the military.
Another survivor, Murad Ali, who was traveling with his wife, shared his experience of witnessing a rocket strike the train’s engine. Murad and others were eventually allowed to leave, walking along the tracks for six kilometers to reach safety at a nearby station. His wife, Bibi Farzana, noted the scene inside the train: “The train was entirely covered with smoke due to firing and explosions.”
Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti characterized the attack as an attempt by separatists to portray Quetta as a violent region. In response to this tragedy, additional military personnel have been dispatched to protect railway stations, as security efforts continue to address the rising violence linked to Baloch separatism. Although unusual, this attack on a train is part of a concerning trend, with previous incidents reported over the past two years, including a suicide bombing targeting soldiers in November 2024.
The assault on the Jaffar Express underscores the ongoing tensions in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, highlighting the violence faced by civilians amid separatist movements. Survivors’ accounts reveal the harrowing reality of ethnic targeting and brutality during such attacks. The incident prompts significant security concerns and a reevaluation of the safety of public transportation in the region, as the government reacts with increased military presence.
Original Source: www.aljazeera.com
