Train hijack in Pakistan
In Pakistan, militants attacked the passenger train Jafar Express and hijacked the train. Six Pakistani soldiers were also reported killed in the terrorist attack and the driver of the train has been injured. Don News quoted government spokesperson Shahid Rind as saying that the train was attacked on Jafar Express going from Quetta to Peshawar in Bolna district. Railway Controller Muhammad Kashif said that this train with nine coaches had about 500 passengers aboard the Jafar Express. Security guards on the train fired retaliatory.
Trying to contact passengers
The government of Balochistan province of Pakistan on Tuesday instructed local authorities to take ’emergency measures’. Armed Baloch Liberation Army militants have stopped the Jafar Express train in tunnel number 8. Efforts are being made to contact passengers and employees. A statement by the provincial government said that Emergency has been declared in Sibi Hospital and ambulances and security forces are reaching the spot.
Rind said that due to the rocky area, the authorities are facing difficulties in reaching the spot. The statement further said that the Railway Department has sent more trains to the scene for rescue work. The scale of the incident and the possibility of terrorist elements are being ascertained.
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The Jafar Express left from Quetta at 9 am on Tuesday morning.
The 9 coach with Jafar Express had more than 500 passengers and employees.
The Jafar Express was firing near Panaiur railway station in Dadar.
The terrorists stopped the Jafar Express train in tunnel number 8.
Indiscriminately firing around the train, in which the driver of the train was seriously injured and several passengers were also injured.
There was a possibility of casualties due to security forces reaching the spot.
Emergency applied to Sibi Hospital.
Rescue work was delayed due to inaccessible areas. Pakistan Railway sent relief trains.
Railway officials say that no contact has been made to anyone.
Many terrorist attacks in Balochistan in the last one year
In October last year, Pakistan Railways announced the restoration of train services between Quetta and Peshawar after being suspended for more than one and a half months. Balochistan has seen rapid terrorist attacks in the last one year. In November 2024, at least 26 people were killed and 62 injured in a suicide blast at Quetta railway station. Balochistan, rich in oil and minerals, is the largest but lowest population province in Pakistan. It is the center of the country’s ethnic Baloch minorities, whose members say they have to face discrimination and exploitation by the central government.
(Input-PTI)
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