RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif, has unveiled key details about the Jaffer Express attack, shedding light on the challenges security forces faced in their operation against the terrorists.
During a joint press conference with Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Friday, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif disclosed that terrorists ambushed the train in a rugged, remote mountainous region where there was no mobile network coverage, complicating the security forces’ response. He confirmed that an FC (Frontier Corps) post was situated nearby and that three FC personnel were martyred in the initial assault.
A Harrowing Attack and a Daring Operation
Explaining the complexities of the operation, the DG ISPR revealed that security personnel had to access the train from the engine side to confront the attackers. “The terrorists used women as human shields inside the train while forcibly bringing other passengers outside in groups,” he stated.
Adding another layer to the crisis, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif accused Indian media of exploiting the situation for propaganda. He claimed that AI-generated visuals and recycled footage were used to spread disinformation, misleading audiences about the events unfolding in Pakistan.
Providing a timeline of the attack, he reported that the first explosion on Jaffer Express took place around 1 PM on March 11. He condemned the terrorists, stating, “These individuals have no connection to Balochistan or Pakistan; in fact, they are devoid of any trace of humanity.”
Terrorists’ Foreign Links and the Afghan Connection
According to Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif, intelligence indicated that the assailants maintained communication with their mastermind based in Afghanistan throughout the attack. As security forces moved in, several terrorists attempted to flee, but elite forces, particularly the Zarrar Company, successfully neutralized them. He revealed that suicide bombers were positioned in different locations as part of a broader strategy, but the operation was executed with precision, preventing further devastation.
Terming the Jaffer Express mission as one of the most successful hostage rescue operations in Pakistan’s history, the DG ISPR emphasized that despite the challenges, security forces wrapped up the operation within 36 hours. However, he noted that clearance operations were still ongoing in the surrounding areas.
Further exposing the external involvement, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif asserted that the attack was not an isolated event but part of a larger pattern of destabilization, allegedly orchestrated by India. He also revealed that one of the slain terrorists, Badruddin, was the son of the deputy governor of Afghanistan’s Badghis province, while another, Mujeebur Rehman, held the rank of battalion commander in the Afghan army.
Expressing grave concerns over the growing presence of militant factions in Afghanistan, he pointed out that groups like Fitan al-Khawarij were operating from Afghan territory. He also highlighted how advanced military equipment, including night vision devices left behind after the US withdrawal, had fallen into terrorist hands.
Pakistan’s Nationwide Counterterrorism Efforts
The DG ISPR emphasized that countering terrorism required a unified national approach. He recalled that after the 2014 APS attack, Pakistan’s political and military leadership had formulated the National Action Plan (NAP) to combat terrorism. This strategy was later reviewed, and all stakeholders agreed on 14 key measures to reinforce counterterrorism efforts.
Revealing statistical data, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif stated that in 2024 alone, security forces had conducted 55,775 intelligence-based operations (IBOs). “This year, we have already carried out 11,654 operations, averaging around 180 per day. So far, nearly 1,250 terrorists have been eliminated, while 563 security personnel have embraced martyrdom,” he detailed.
Additionally, Pakistan is cracking down on illegal smuggling networks, including non-customs-paid vehicles and illicit Iranian oil trade. “These operations are dismantling a multi-billion-dollar mafia that thrives on instability,” he remarked.
The Issue of Missing Persons
Addressing concerns about missing persons, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif shared that a commission had been established to investigate such cases. “Out of 10,405 reported cases, 8,144 have been resolved, while 2,261 remain under investigation,” he explained. He noted that of the 2,911 cases reported from Balochistan, only 452 were still pending.
Challenging narratives that link missing persons to insurgent groups, he asked, “Who are the people in the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)? Are they genuinely missing persons, or are they present in Afghan training camps?” He also emphasized that terrorism had claimed thousands of innocent lives across Pakistan, cutting across all communities and regions.
CM Sarfraz Bugti: Terrorists Have No Connection to Baloch Traditions
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the Jaffer Express attack, asserting that its primary objective was to destabilize Pakistan. He praised the swift and effective response by security forces, stating that their heroism prevented further loss of life.
“These terrorists have no connection with the traditions of Balochistan, which hold such cowardly acts in great disdain,” he declared. He also expressed gratitude to the international community for condemning the attack, emphasizing that global unity was essential in the fight against terrorism.
