• Source:JND
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Pakistan's military announced on Wednesday that it had successfully ended a tense standoff with separatist militants who hijacked a passenger train in southwestern Balochistan. The Jaffar Express, carrying over 400 passengers, was attacked on Tuesday when militants blew up railway tracks and launched rocket attacks, leading to a hostage crisis.

Military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry confirmed that all 33 insurgents involved in the hijacking were killed in the operation, along with 21 hostages. The attack, carried out by Baloch separatists, marked one of the most brazen assaults on Pakistan’s railway system in recent years.

“The armed forces successfully concluded the operation in the (Wednesday) evening by killing all terrorists and rescuing all passengers safely,” Lt Gen Sharif stated.

 The Jaffar Express had around 440 passengers when it was attacked, according to the Pakistani military. Some militants may have fled the train, taking an unknown number of hostages into the nearby mountainous region. The military is now working to locate missing passengers, though the exact number remains unclear. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the attack, is designated as a terrorist organisation by Pakistan, the UK, the US, and other Western nations.

Shehbaz Sharif On Jaffar Express Attack

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the Jaffar Express hijacking, asserting that such terrorist acts will not weaken the country’s resolve for peace. In his first reaction to the incident, Sharif stated that he had spoken with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti, who briefed him on the latest developments.

Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and extended condolences to the families of the victims. He also prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. Emphasising Pakistan's determination to combat terrorism, he declared that "dozens of BLA terrorists have been sent to hell".