Security forces have started an operation to rescue the train passengers who were taken hostage by militants in Bolan hours ago, according to sources.
Security sources say that militants targeted innocent citizens during attack on Jaffar Express. They said that militants stopped the train in the tunnel and then took the passengers hostage.
Even though the crime scene is away from the main road and is located in a difficult terrain, security forces have started the clearance operation. Women and children are also among the hostages.
Sources say that militants are in contact with their facilitators abroad. They said that militants have nothing to do with Islam, Pakistan or Balochistan as they targeted innocent people.
Militants held 450 passengers hostage after several were reported injured following gun attack on the Jaffar Express near Ab Gham in the Machh area of Bolan in Balochistan on Tuesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Terrorists blew up the rail track and opened indiscriminate firing on the train before taking hundreds hostage.
Sources said that around six terrorists opened fire on the train, causing panic among the passengers with several individuals including the driver of train were injured due to the gunfire.
The driver of Jaffar Express, travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, received serious injuries. Soon after receiving the report of the incident heavy contingents of law-enforcement agencies rushed to the area.
Local administration also imposed emergencies in all the hospitals of Quetta and Sibi as a number of blasts were also heard from the attack site.
Sources further revealed that rail traffic on the track was suspended.
Commenting on reports of intense firing at Jaffar Express, heading from Quetta to Peshawar, spokesman for the Balochistan government Shahid Rind has said that ambulances, security forces personnel and a train have been dispatched to the site of the incident.
He, however, has said that there are difficulties in accessing the area due to the mountainous terrain.
The spokesman has informed that an emergency has been imposed at Sibbi Hospital. “We are looking at the incident from different angles, and the possibility of a terror act cannot be ruled out,” he has added.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the train attack and prayed for those wounded in the attack. He said that those who attacked the passenger train deserved no leniency.
