ISPR DG says India directly sponsored Jaffar Express hijacking

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday revealed that India was the “main sponsor” behind the Jaffar Express hijacking in Balochistan.

Addressing a press conference alongside Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry detailed the security operation and condemned Indian media for running a misinformation campaign.

The attack on the Jaffar Express, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, occurred on March 11 at around 1:00 PM, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was detonated near the train. Following the explosion, heavily armed terrorists launched an assault, systematically executing their plan.

Lt. Gen. Chaudhry revealed that the terrorists operated in multiple groups. One group forced women and children to stay inside the train, using them as human shields, while others dragged the remaining passengers outside. The terrorists then took hostages and moved towards the rugged mountainous terrain, making an immediate counter-operation challenging.

Security forces’ swift action

In response, Pakistan’s Zarrar Company, FC Balochistan, and law enforcement agencies launched a carefully planned clearance operation. Within 36 hours, security forces successfully neutralized 33 terrorists and rescued the hostages.

DG ISPR emphasized that this was one of the most successful counterterrorism operations in Pakistan’s history. “No civilian casualties occurred during the operation; all civilian deaths happened before our forces intervened,” he clarified. The security forces first targeted suicide bombers among the attackers to prevent further loss of life.