Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry announced on Wednesday evening that the clearance operation to rescue hostages of the Jaffar Express has been completed and all 33 terrorists involved have been killed.

Speaking to a news channel, Chaudhry said that a total of 440 passengers were aboard the Jaffar Express when it was attacked in Bolan. He also added that the operation had changed the rules of the game.

He added 21 passengers lost their lives before the operation began. However, he announced that not a single abductee was hurt during the clearance operation. Some passengers who escaped during the operation are being rounded up, he added.

DG ISPR added that Pakistan Army, Pakistan Air Force, Frontier Corps had taken part in the operation, with SSG commandoes participating on Wednesday as well.

He added that terrorists had placed suicide bombers along with the hostages who were placed in groups near the train. However, security forces carefully conducted the operation, eliminating the suicide bombers and then clearing the train bogey by bogey. A total of 33 terrorists were killed, he added. He also added that the terrorists were in contact with their handlers in Afghanistan.

He said that four FC personnel lost their lives over the entire incident, of which three were martyred at a Railways picket while one was martyred during the operation.

“Trains, buses, roads or markets, we will not allow citizens to be targeted anywhere,” Sharif added.

He also added that the incident has ‘changed the rules of the game’ and that the terrorists had no link to either ‘Islam, Pakistan or Balochistan.’

The banned Baloch Liberation Army had claimed responsibility for the attack.