Jaffar Express resumes service 16 days following a horrific terrorist attack.
The Jaffar Express, which was the subject of a terrorist attack near Bolan in Balochistan, has resumed operations after a 16-day suspension.
On Thursday, the passenger train departed from Peshawar Cantonment Railway Station, where federal minister Amir Muqam and railway authorities bid farewell to the travelers.
The Jaffar Express will traverse Punjab and Sindh before entering Balochistan, completing a 34-hour journey to arrive in Quetta by Friday evening. A total of 280 travelers have booked bookings for the journey, with 28 departing from Peshawar.
This is the sole train that traverses all four provinces of the country.
The Jaffar Express was assaulted by terrorists on March 11, resulting in the cessation of train services. Security personnel eliminated all 33 terrorists during the operation, but 26 passengers perished in the attack. Certain accounts indicated an elevated casualty count.
During the train departure ceremony, Muqam articulated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had expressed a desire to reinstate the Jaffar Express service to Quetta, and the train had already initiated its journey from Peshawar.
He stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir were resolute in their commitment to safeguarding the nation’s security. He stated that the malicious plans of terrorists would be thwarted.
The National Assembly has passed a resolution denouncing the attack on the Jaffar Express.
Amir Muqam also highlighted the determination of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the fight against terrorism, stating that the battle against the scourge of terrorism would continue until its elimination. Terrorism constitutes a national concern, he asserted, and collective effort is essential for its eradication.
The federal minister condemned the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), asserting that the opposition party’s actions were not directed towards the advancement of the nation and province, but rather to usurp authority in Islamabad. He remarked there was no consistency in the PTI’s policies.
Muqam said the repatriation of Afghan refugees was unavoidable and it would be implemented with caution.
JAFFAR EXPRESS TRAGEDY
On March 11, the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) blew up train tracks and held up more than 440 passengers near a remote mountain pass in the Bolan district.
After a day-long standoff, security forces killed 33 attackers and rescued the remaining passengers. Terrorists had martyred 26 people before the launch of the operation. Four security personnel embraced martyrdom during the operation.
Addressing a press conference on March 14, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry called India the main sponsor of terrorism in Balochistan. He added that the attack on Jaffar Express was a part of the same policy.
He also criticised the Indian media for using old social media footage to delude people. He said there was a “nexus” which wanted to legitimise the terrorist narrative and their actions.
He further disclosed that the terrorists operated in groups and remained in contact with handlers in Afghanistan during the attack.