Assistant Machinists’ 28-Hour Train Piracy in Pakistan
- Islamabad - Saad qamar, a 31-year-old train machinist assistant, began his workday like any other on the morning of March 11.
- Qamar signed his task form and inspected the locomotive slated for the Jaffar Express, a train bound for a 1,600-kilometer journey from Quetta in southwestern Pakistan to Peshawar...
- After the train passed through four stations in the Bolan mountains, a powerful explosion rocked the locomotive.
Jaffar Express Engineer Recounts Hostage Ordeal After Deadly Attack
Table of Contents
- Jaffar Express Engineer Recounts Hostage Ordeal After Deadly Attack
- Jaffar Express Attack: A Machinist’s Account
- What Happened on the Jaffar Express?
- What Role Did Saad Qamar Play During the Attack?
- When and How Was Saad Qamar Rescued?
- Who Claimed Responsibility for the Attack?
- What Was the Outcome of the Rescue Attempt?
- How Did the Attack Affect Qamar’s Family?
- What Were the Immediate actions Taken on the Train?
- what Challenges Did Passengers Face During and After the Attack?
- How Did the Attack Compare to Previous Incidents?
- What is Pakistan’s Railway History?
- What was the Father’s Encouragement?
- Key Facts about the Jaffar Express Attack
Islamabad - Saad qamar, a 31-year-old train machinist assistant, began his workday like any other on the morning of March 11. Donning his white uniform, he bid farewell to his parents and left his home around 7:30 a.m. local time, heading to the Pakistan Railways locomotive warehouse a short distance away.
Qamar signed his task form and inspected the locomotive slated for the Jaffar Express, a train bound for a 1,600-kilometer journey from Quetta in southwestern Pakistan to Peshawar in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He boarded the train alongside the main engineer, Amjad Yasin, and more than 400 passengers, unaware of the harrowing events that would soon unfold.
Explosion and Realization
After the train passed through four stations in the Bolan mountains, a powerful explosion rocked the locomotive. Qamar and Yasin immediately knew they were under attack. The time was 12:55 p.m.
The Jaffar Express had been targeted before. In January 2023, a bomb struck the train, injuring passengers and derailing three cars.
“The machinist activated the emergency brake,” Qamar later recalled.
The train was traveling at approximately 40 kilometers per hour when the attack occurred. In the following days, the Jaffar Express became international news when the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an armed group, claimed responsibility and took passengers hostage.
A Deadly Siege
A rescue attempt by Pakistani armed forces led to a deadly siege, with a shootout erupting between the military and BLA fighters.Ultimately, more than 300 passengers were rescued, and the military reported killing 33 rebels, including suicide bombers.
According to the Inter-service public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, 21 troops and 10 civilians died in the attack. The memory of those hours continues to haunt Qamar.
Trapped in the Locomotive
After the train came to a halt, Qamar’s immediate priority was securing the wheels with wooden blocks. “When I stepped out and managed to put one wooden shoe, the intense shot began.Some bullets hit the wheels near me. The machinist asked me to go up into the locomotive to save my life, and we locked the locomotive door,” he saeid.
eyewitness accounts indicate that the attackers fired shots and launched grenades and rockets at the train. They then began removing passengers, separating them based on ethnicity after checking their identification.
Qamar attempted to alert the nearest train station using the train’s wireless communication system, but the connection was severed when the machinist shut down the locomotive to prevent a potential fire, as bullets had punctured the fuel tank.
“We cannot communicate with family and friends as it is indeed an area without a signal,” he explained.
Rescue and aftermath
Qamar, the eldest of four siblings, was finally rescued around 4:30 p.m. on March 12 by commandos from the Special Service Group (SSG), who transported him and 135 other passengers to Quetta. He had spent approximately 28 hours at the attack site, most of it inside the locomotive.
“I ate the food my mother gave, but I broke the fast when dusk with a sip of water and I fasted the next morning with a sip of water again because at that time I did not think of anything except praying to God,” he said.
rumors and Fears
Due to the military-imposed communication blackout, rumors spread rapidly throughout Pakistan. One such rumor claimed that the attackers had killed the machinists. Qamar’s father, Ghulam Sabir, 67, a retired railroad engineer, was initially kept in the dark about the attack due to his health.
“I feel something bad has happened because my younger brother and son are constantly gossiping with a tense face and the entire environment in Railway Colony is not normal,” Sabir said.
A friend in Sibi, a town south of Quetta, informed Sabir about the attack on the Jaffar Express near the Paneer train station. Sabir rushed to the train control room in Quetta, but officials could only offer conflicting details. Some feared Qamar was dead, while others hoped he was still alive as a hostage. The following day, news arrived confirming Qamar was alive.
“the drivers and other staff hugged me while shedding tears,” he recalled.
Pakistan’s Railway History
Pakistan’s railway system dates back to the British colonial era in the 19th century, initially built to transport military equipment near the borders with Afghanistan. Today, trains remain an affordable mode of transportation for many of Pakistan’s 244 million residents, often crowded with passengers. This makes trains a vulnerable target for armed groups seeking attention.
The recent attack is considered one of the deadliest and most brazen in Pakistani history. For Qamar, who has worked for the railroad for five years, it was his first experience of such an attack.
A Father’s Encouragement
Upon his return home, Qamar’s mother urged him to quit his job, but his father encouraged him to continue working.
“As a machinist or machinist assistant, we always try to provide timely and safe trips for passengers because we are the leader of the passenger train and is responsible for hundreds of lives sitting behind us and believes without knowing us,” Qamar said.
“I tell my child to carry out his duties bravely even after the piracy of this train,” Sabir said.
Pakistan resumed train service connecting Balochistan with the rest of the country on March 28, following the suspension due to the attack. Qamar returned to work on Thursday, wearing his uniform, aboard the same Jaffar Express.
Jaffar Express Attack: A Machinist’s Account
This article details the harrowing experience of Saad Qamar,a train machinist assistant,during a deadly attack on the Jaffar Express in Pakistan.It draws information from the provided article, focusing on the events, the aftermath, and Qamar’s personal account.
What Happened on the Jaffar Express?
On the morning of March 11, Saad Qamar, a train machinist assistant, began his regular workday on the Jaffar Express. The train was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when it was ambushed by armed attackers in the Bolan mountains. The attack resulted in a siege, with passengers taken hostage, and a subsequent rescue attempt by Pakistani armed forces leading to a deadly shootout.
What Role Did Saad Qamar Play During the Attack?
As the attack began, Qamar’s primary objective was to secure the locomotive and protect himself.He attempted to secure the wheels with wooden blocks and then took refuge inside the locomotive with the main engineer. Despite the danger, Qamar tried to alert the nearest train station using the train’s wireless interaction system, but the connection was severed when the machinist shut down the locomotive to prevent a potential fire. he remained trapped inside the locomotive for approximately 28 hours.
When and How Was Saad Qamar Rescued?
Saad Qamar was rescued approximately 28 hours after the attack began, around 4:30 p.m. on March 12. He was rescued by commandos from the Special Service Group (SSG) who transported him and 135 other passengers to Quetta.
Who Claimed Responsibility for the Attack?
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), an armed group, claimed responsibility for the attack and for taking passengers hostage.
What Was the Outcome of the Rescue Attempt?
The rescue attempt by Pakistani armed forces resulted in a deadly siege and a shootout between the military and BLA fighters. More than 300 passengers were rescued. According to the Inter-service Public Relations (ISPR),the media wing of the Pakistani military,21 troops and 10 civilians died in the attack.The military reported killing 33 rebels,including suicide bombers.
How Did the Attack Affect Qamar’s Family?
Due to a military-imposed communication blackout, rumors spread rapidly. Initially, qamar’s father, Ghulam Sabir, was kept in the dark about the attack due to his health. Once informed, Sabir, a retired railroad engineer, rushed to the train control room, where officials initially could only offer conflicting details. There were fears that Qamar was dead. News eventually arrived confirming Qamar was alive and rescued.
What Were the Immediate actions Taken on the Train?
Following the initial explosion, the machinist activated the emergency brake. Qamar’s immediate priority was to secure the wheels with wooden blocks. The locomotive door was locked for safety. The train then came to a halt.
what Challenges Did Passengers Face During and After the Attack?
Passengers faced multiple challenges:
- Initial Attack: The train was attacked with gunfire and grenades.
- Hostage Situation: attackers separated passengers based on ethnicity.
- Communication Blackout: The train’s wireless system was severed.
- Limited Resources: Qamar ate the food his mother gave, and broke the fast with water.
How Did the Attack Compare to Previous Incidents?
The jaffar express had been targeted before. In January 2023,a bomb struck the train,injuring passengers and derailing three cars. The recent attack on the Jaffar Express is considered one of the deadliest and most brazen in Pakistani history.
What is Pakistan’s Railway History?
Pakistan’s railway system dates back to the British colonial era in the 19th century and was initially built to transport military equipment near the borders with Afghanistan.Today, trains remain an affordable mode of transportation for many of Pakistan’s 244 million residents, often crowded with passengers.
What was the Father’s Encouragement?
After Qamar was rescued, his mother urged him to quit his job. However, his father, also a railroad engineer, encouraged him to continue working. He emphasized the importance of the machinist’s role in ensuring safe and timely travel for passengers.He told his son to “carry out his duties bravely even after the piracy of this train.”
Key Facts about the Jaffar Express Attack
Here’s a summary of key details from the attack:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Attack | March 11 |
| Location | Bolan mountains, Pakistan |
| Train Involved | Jaffar Express |
| Claimed Responsibility | Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) |
| Casualties (Military) | 21 troops |
| Casualties (Civilian) | 10 civilians |
| Passengers Rescued | Over 300 |
| Hostage Duration (qamar) | Approximately 28 hours |