The unprecedented hostage situation began on Tuesday near the Mashkaf Tunnel, about 157 kilometres from Quetta, when terrorists attacked the Jaffer Express and took more than 400 passengers hostage, including numerous security personnel.

What we know so far:

• Train carrying around 450 people, including security personnel, hijacked; BLA claims responsibility
• Security forces launch operation, kill 30 terrorists;
• 70 to 80 terrorists were involved in the incident, according to interior ministry
• 190 passengers; including 37 injured, rescued; 57 of rescued passengers shifted to the provincial capital
• Terrorists in contact with their facilitators in Afghanistan, as per state media
• Help desk and emergency cell set up for families of travellers
• Condemnations pour in from UN, Iran, Germany

Security forces claimed to have rescued around 190 passengers so far — including women and children — from the attackers, state-run Radio Pakistan reported today, citing security sources.

The security sources added that 30 terrorists had been killed by security forces so far, while the operation to eliminate the remaining assailants was continuing.

The report further said 37 injured had been sent for medical treatment.

“The terrorists responsible for the cowardly attack on Jaffar Express are in contact with their facilitators in Afghanistan,” Radio Pakistan further said.

“The terrorists have positioned suicide bombers very close to some innocent hostages. The suicide bombers are wearing explosive vests,” the report quoted security sources as saying.

“In anticipation of possible defeat, the terrorists are using innocent people as human shields,” the report said.

It added that suicide bombers have “taken women and children hostage at three different locations” and that the operation was being conducted with “utmost caution” due to the presence of women and children.

There was no confirmation of the total number of casualties, but officials said that at least 30 people — including the driver of the locomotive and eight security personnel — had lost their lives as the forces engaged in a gun battle.

It was not immediately clear whether these people had been freed as the result of kinetic military action or were among those allegedly freed by the armed assailants.

The hijacking was a first of its kind event, as terrorists had never attempted to attack or take an entire train and its occupants hostage earlier.

The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack and claimed to have taken a large number of people hostage. The group also claimed that they had freed several people — including women and children — but these reports could not be independently verified.

70 to 80 terrorists involved in incident: interior official

Speaking to Geo News today, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said that about 70 to 80 terrorists were involved in the incident.

“Even right now, the terrorists have made human shields out of women and children. These suicide bombers are making small groups of the women and children and staying with them.

“That’s why this operation is being undertaken with care, to protect the maximum number of lives,” the minister said.

“The handlers of these terrorists are in a neighbouring country; those giving them dollars are in another country. Our enemy India will definitely support this,” he said.

“But what is unfortunate is that even in Pakistan, there were social media statements and tweets that made it seem like they were supporting terrorism and discouraging the security forces.

“The government will handle these social media statements the way it is handling the terrorists,” he warned.

Chaudhry acknowledged the need for strict action. “We have previously tried to take local stakeholders into confidence, and we will try again.

“But you cannot say, ‘the government does not communicate with us, they don’t take us into confidence. ’”

Responding to a question, he said: “I agree with you, that this insurgency, this terrorism cannot be wiped out until the political forces behind the security forces stand together with one voice.”

He claimed that between 2013 and 2018 — when the PTI was in power — terrorism had been eliminated because political forces took note and stood behind their security forces. He also said that the successive government had policies that allowed many people from neighbouring countries to come to Pakistan.

“This BLA and TTP (Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan)… they are a result of collaboration between people who don’t want to see Pakistan be stable. PSX goes up, the rupee becomes stable, and terrorism increases. Why? To destabilise [the country],” he said.

“Keeping civilians safe and eliminating terrorists is what’s taking time with the operation,” Chaudhry reiterated. “I cannot give a timeframe, but it is hoped that this operation is completed quickly, and after that, more details can be shared.”

He also requested that “fake news and videos” not be spread on social media.

“Tell me, in a mountainous area with no signals, where nothing else is present, information cannot come from there. All this was pre-planned. We should not pay heed to these statements and videos discouraging our security forces.”

Overcoming obstacles

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti chaired a meeting on law and order and was briefed on the Jaffar Express attack by the additional home chief secretary.

“The attack is intolerable, and strict action should be taken,” CM Bugti said.

“Terrorists can’t occupy even an inch. The terrorist attack aims to create an impression of a violent environment,” he told the participants of the meeting.

“The dream of anti-national elements to cut Pakistan like a cake can never be realised. We must rid ourselves of any confusion and fight the war against terrorism,” he said.

CM Bugti said that the enemies of Balochistan would not be allowed to succeed at any cost. He directed that all resources be provided to security institutions to protect the people.

“There will be strong action against the facilitators of terrorists,” he said. “There will be no compromise on the law and order situation in Balochistan, and tough decisions must be made.”

He directed the law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators of the hijacking to justice soon.

Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, Inspector General of Police Moazzam Jah Ansari, and IG Railways Rai Tahir, among other officials, attended the meeting.

Although hampered by the remoteness of the area, security forces said they had launched a massive operation in the Dhadar area of Bolan Pass to rescue the hostages.

An operation to recover the rest of the missing passengers and bring the attackers to justice continued in the area around the Mashkaf Tunnel.

Due to the sensitive nature of the action underway, Dawn.com will not report any critical operational details until the situation has been resolved.

Following the attack, Pakistan Railways temporarily suspended its entire operations from Punjab and Sindh to Balochistan and vice versa.

Amid the ongoing operation, Pakistan Railways announced setting up a “Help Desk” at Rawalpindi Railway Station for families to seek information about their loved ones onboard the train.

The help desk, which the Pakistan Railways said was in constant contact with the control rooms in Quetta and Peshawar, can be contacted on 051-9270831, 051-9270834 and 051-9270835.

An “Emergency Cell” has also been set up at Quetta Railway Station for information on the passengers and can be reached at 081-9201210, 081-9201211, and 117.

The train operation to Quetta has been temporarily suspended and will be restored after security clearance, Pakistan Railways reiterated.