A railway police officer onboard the Jaffar Express has described the horrifying attack by Baloch separatist militants, detailing how security personnel fought back until their ammunition ran out before being taken hostage. His account, given anonymously, contradicts initial reports from Pakistani officials, emphasizing that the attack occurred in an open space, not a tunnel.
On Tuesday, the nine-coach Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with over 400 passengers, was ambushed. According to military sources, by Wednesday morning, 155 passengers had been rescued. However, the full extent of casualties and abductions remains unclear.
The police officer recounted the moment the attack began:
“Suddenly, there was an explosion on the railway track, and the train stopped. Then they fired launchers, and we knew our fate was sealed.”
Within minutes, a large number of militants swarmed the area. The officer estimates they numbered in the hundreds, far outnumbering the small contingent of railway police and security personnel aboard the train.
“They were coming down from the mountains ahead of us. Their numbers were overwhelming.”
The officer and six other security personnel, including railway police, decided to resist. Armed with a limited supply of ammunition, they engaged in a firefight that lasted about ninety minutes.
“I asked my friend for the G3 rifle—it’s a better weapon. I took it, along with my bullets, and started firing. My strategy was to pick them off one by one so they couldn’t reach us or the train.”
Despite their efforts, the security team was at a disadvantage. The officer recalled:
“We had 60 rounds each. Some had 40. When our bullets ran out, we had nothing left to defend ourselves. I threw my rifle away so they wouldn’t kill me for holding a weapon.”
After overpowering the security team, the militants systematically separated passengers based on ethnicity and caste. According to the officer:
“They asked, ‘What is your language? Seraiki? Sindhi? Punjabi?’ They separated people into different groups.”
The extremists, speaking in Balochi, warned the passengers that unless their demands were met, no one would be spared.
The officer revealed that military personnel and those suspected of affiliations with the Pakistani government were particularly targeted.
“They tied the hands of the soldiers. Some advised me to remove my uniform, but I refused.”
The militants then began executing people. The officer stated:
“They received orders and acted immediately. Military personnel and civilians alike were killed.”
By sunset, a large number of militants withdrew, but 20-25 stayed behind to guard the remaining hostages.
As the night progressed, Pakistani security forces advanced toward the site. Taking advantage of the distraction, the officer and his companion attempted an escape.
“I told my partner, ‘Let’s run.’ They fired at us as we fled. My companion was shot.”
Despite his injuries, the officer refused to leave his partner behind.
“He told me to go, but I carried him on my shoulder. Another person helped us. We climbed down the hills and out of the firing zone.”
Reaching a nearby railway station, the escapees encountered security personnel who provided first aid.
“They cleaned our wounds and gave us fish to eat.”
The attack on Jaffar Express is part of a long-standing insurgency in Balochistan, where separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have been fighting for independence.
The Baloch people claim they were forcibly incorporated into Pakistan during the 1947 partition and have since struggled against government and military control.
The BLA, one of the most prominent separatist groups, emerged in the 1970s. It initially waged an armed rebellion against then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto but was suppressed under military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq. The organization resurfaced in 2000, launching attacks on government and military targets.
The BLA opposes foreign influence, particularly from China and Pakistan, and claims Balochistan’s natural resources should benefit locals rather than external powers. Most of its fighters come from the Marri and Bugti tribes, historically at odds with the Pakistani state.
Sardar Akbar Bugti, a key figure in Balochistan’s struggle, was killed in a Pakistani military operation in 2006. His death fueled renewed violence.
The Pakistani government officially designated the BLA a terrorist organization in 2007, but the group continues its attacks.
Balochistan remains Pakistan’s most volatile province, plagued by insurgency, military operations, and human rights abuses. Separatist violence often targets infrastructure, security forces, and Chinese-backed projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The attack on Jaffar Express highlights the scale of the insurgency. Despite Pakistan’s military presence in the region, the militants executed a well-planned ambush on a moving train, exposing vulnerabilities in security.
Pakistan’s security forces have launched operations to recover kidnapped passengers and neutralize the militants. However, questions remain about how such a large-scale attack was possible despite intelligence and military presence.
The officer’s chilling words summarize the crisis:
“We were outnumbered. We fought until our bullets ran out. Then, we were at their mercy.”
With Baloch separatist groups growing more sophisticated, Pakistan faces a deepening conflict in its most resource-rich yet unstable province. The Jaffar Express attack may not be the last.
