The dramatic takeover of the Jaffar Express by Baloch rebels is still the talk of Pakistan. As the Pakistan Army's operation unfolds, 155 hostages have been freed while several rebels have been subdued. Many hostages endured long treks on foot to reach the nearest station, recounting their harrowing experiences along the way.
On board the Jaffar Express heading to Peshawar, Mushtaq Muhammad shared how his journey was interrupted at Mach Station with a sudden explosion that caused the train to screech to a halt. The shock was immediately followed by a burst of gunfire that continued relentlessly for close to an hour.
Another eyewitness, Ishaq Noor — seated in compartment seven with his wife and two children on the way to Rawalpindi — described the explosive force that shook the train's doors and windows violently. He instinctively urged his children to lie flat on the ground to avoid the bullets.
Source: aajtak
Ishaq detailed how the firing raged on for fifty minutes, leaving passengers bewildered and frightened. As soon as the shooting paused, armed men stormed into the train, demanding ID checks and taking some individuals with them. Guards stood vigilantly at the compartment's entrance, indifferent to the plight of civilians, women, and the elderly, and equally dismissive of the Baloch people.
They spoke in Balochi, with their leader persistently directing them to keep an eye on the security personnel. Tragically, eleven people from Ishaq's compartment were executed, alleged to be army personnel.
In the evening, the attackers informed the hostages they intended no harm to Baloch civilians, women, or the elderly. However, contrary to these claims, eyewitness Mohammed Ashraf confirmed that massacres of civilians, including women and children, did occur.
Upon release, the hostages began their arduous hike towards the station in the growing dusk. The three-and-a-half-hour ordeal left them exhausted, with women and children visibly weakened, some even opting to leave their possessions behind to hasten the journey. Just before release, they were sternly advised by an eyewitness, 'Whatever happens, don't look back.' They complied, trudging forward with weighted hearts.
