Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir will visit Quetta today in response to the terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express, which claimed 21 lives, including four security personnel.
The prime minister is set to chair a high-level security meeting, where he will receive a detailed briefing on the attack. Security agencies will present an overview of the rescue operation and the counterterrorism measures taken to neutralize the assailants. The meeting will also focus on key decisions regarding future security strategies.
Sources confirm that the prime minister will attend the funeral prayers of those martyred in the attack, with COAS General Munir also present, reaffirming the military’s commitment to eradicating terrorism.
Jaffar Express Attack: Operation Successfully Concluded
Security forces have successfully concluded an operation against the terrorists responsible for the Jaffar Express attack in Balochistan, eliminating all 33 attackers. However, 21 passengers, including four soldiers, lost their lives in the assault.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that the terrorists detonated a railway track in the Aosipur area of Bolan at approximately 1 a.m. on March 11, derailing the Jaffar Express, which was carrying 440 passengers.
Speaking to a private news channel, DG ISPR revealed that the terrorists used hostages—including women and children—as human shields, making the rescue operation highly complex. He noted that the Pakistan Army, in coordination with the Air Force, Frontier Corps (FC), and Special Services Group (SSG), executed a carefully planned counterterrorism operation, ensuring the safe evacuation of most hostages.
“The targeting of civilians on roads, trains, and markets is unacceptable. The military remains resolute in its mission to eliminate terrorism,” DG ISPR stated.
Changing the ‘Rules of the Game’
DG ISPR described the attack as a turning point in Pakistan’s counterterrorism approach, asserting that it has fundamentally changed the “rules of the game.” He confirmed that suicide bombers among the attackers were neutralized through precision strikes, preventing further casualties.
Security forces reported that the terrorists had been in contact with handlers in Afghanistan. While most were eliminated, some managed to flee into nearby areas. Intelligence operations are underway to track down and neutralize any remaining threats.
