‘We fought until our bullets ran out’

KARACHI:

Jaffer Express was not inside a tunnel, but under an open sky, when it came under siege by militants who outnumbered the train’s security detail by the hundreds, a police officer who survived the attack has revealed.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to BBC Urdu, the officer narrated his harrowing experience – from the moment of the ambush to his daring escape from captivity. He recalled how he and his colleagues fought back against the terrorists until their ammunition was depleted, leaving them defenceless and at the mercy of the attackers.

Contradicting official claims that the train was inside a tunnel at the time of the attack, the officer stated that the Jaffer Express was halted abruptly by an explosion on the tracks. Moments later, a barrage of rocket fire rained down as militants swarmed in from the surrounding mountains.

“They were everywhere,” he said. “Hundreds of them, while we were just seven—five policemen and two Frontier Corps (FC) personnel.”

Realising the odds, the security team decided to make every bullet count. The team fired single shots, trying to keep them at bay, stretching the limited ammunition as much as they could.

For an hour and a half, they held their ground, exchanging fire with the attackers.

However, as their bullets ran out, the militants sensing their opportunity, descended from the mountains and took control of the train.

Once the security personnel were subdued, the militants forced passengers off the train, checking their identity cards and separating them based on ethnicity.

The terrorist threatened to execute the passengers and burn the train if their demands weren’t met by the government, while soldiers on board were tied up.

As night fell, most of the attackers withdrew, leaving a group of 20 to 25 men behind to guard the captives. In the darkness, some hostages attempted to flee but were met with a hail of bullets. They opened fire and the people collapsed on the ground.

At dawn, FC reinforcements arrived, drawing the militants’ focus. Seizing the opportunity, the officer and a few others made a break for it.

“We ran with everything we had,” he recalled. “They fired at us, and one of my companions was hit, but we didn’t stop. We kept going until we reached the railway station, where FC personnel took us to safety in Mach.”

Meanwhile, survivors of the hijacking also shared their traumatic experiences. A rescued passenger described the chaos inside the train as gunfire and explosions echoed around them.

Passengers recount ordeal

The passengers of the Jaffar Express, who were freed after being held hostage by terrorists, have shared their harrowing eyewitness accounts of the attack.

One of the rescued passengers described the chaotic scene during the assault, stating that passengers were forced to lie on the floor of the train for protection. According to the passenger, gunshots and explosions were heard as the attack unfolded.

The passenger also recalled that the attackers ordered everyone to disembark from the train, though many were hesitant. “I took my children and got off. I told myself that since they are telling us to get down, we should listen, otherwise, they would come inside and start shooting,” the passenger explained.

The attack, which targeted the train, led to a tense and frightening situation for the passengers, many of whom feared for their lives.

The passengers of the attacked Jaffar Express, who were freed from the terrorists, have shared their eyewitness accounts.

One of the rescued passengers narrated the ordeal, saying that during the attack, there was chaos all around, and everyone was lying on the floor of the train to protect themselves. At that moment, there were gunshots followed by explosions.

The passenger further explained that the terrorists ordered everyone to get off the train, but many were hesitant. He said, “I took my children and got off. I told myself that since they were telling us to get down, we should listen, otherwise, they would come inside and start shooting.”

He added, “We got off, and after that, they left me, my children, and my wife, telling us not to look back.”

A senior passenger who was also rescued stated that the terrorists instructed the children to get off the train, explaining that there was no safety either inside or outside the train.

The group descended and, fortunately, was spared. They continued walking for hours, eventually falling into a canal, but after walking for about four hours, they reached a safe location.

(With input from News Desk)