- Talal says that all passengers will soon be rescued.
- Confirms the hostages included by officials and families of the government.
- Add terrorists had taken passengers in the mountainous region.
The Minister of State inside and the control of narcotics Talal Chaudhry rejected the claim of terrorists on Tuesday to release certain women and children from the hostages of the Jaffer Express, saying that the attackers used them as “ human shields ”.
“The security forces practiced caution due to the life involved … They lead a large -scale operation and all the passengers will soon be rescued,” said Talal by talking about the new Geo ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Sath’ program ‘.
Earlier in the day, terrorists attacked Jaffar Express in Bolan Distrche du Balutchistan had taken passengers, including women and children.
The train, with more than 400 passengers on board in nine bogies, was on the road from Quetta to Peshawar at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa when it was attacked, according to security sources.
By giving details on the attack, he said that the train had been taken hostage around noon in a distant area. “Some passengers have been released because the security forces began to reach the site,” he said, adding that he could not yet disclose the figures.
The Minister of State added that the liberated passengers were taken to the nearest station and finally their planned destinations. He also confirmed that hostages included representatives of government and their families.
The minister also said that the terrorists had taken many passengers to the neighboring mountainous area, reiterating that women and children were not released by the attackers but restored by the efforts of the security forces.
Calling “cowardly” attackers, Talal said they chose soft targets and attack while hiding.
“Unfortunately, such incidents are supported by our own people with the enemy on social networks,” he said, without mentioning group or name.
The Minister of State called on the international community to stand in Pakistan in the war against terrorism. “Evidence is present that these terrorists obtain support from Afghanistan,” he said, adding that they are funded by Afghanistan drug money.
In the midst of the current customs clearance operation, the security forces managed to eliminate at least 13 attackers and save 80 hostages.
Among those who are rescued are 53 men, 26 women and 11 children. Sources of security added forces continue the operation to save the other hostages, and the circle around the terrorists is tightened.
Following the operations of the security forces, the activists divided into small groups, said security sources, adding that the injured passengers were transferred to a neighboring hospital for immediate medical treatment.
Shortly after the start of the attack, the security forces completed and surrounded the train, and a heavy exchange of fire was reported.
Security sources have said the terrorists behind the attack are in contact with their brains in Afghanistan and use women and children as human shields.
The operation is carried out with extreme caution due to the presence of civilians on board. Sources of security have explained that the operation is still complicated by the difficult terrain of the region.
The attackers bombed the railway before storming on the train, said the security forces, adding that they also opened fire on the locomotive, injuring the driver.