Jaffar Express Derails After Powerful Blast On Sindh-Balochistan Border

The Jaffar Express has once again fallen victim to a major attack in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province. A powerful explosion on the railway track near Jacobabad led to the derailment of four coaches while the train was en route from Peshawar to Quetta. According to Pakistani media reports Police officials confirmed that the blast created a crater approximately three feet wide and deep, destroying nearly six feet of the track. The explosion was reportedly caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted on the line.

The impact was so intense that the wheels of several bogies were thrown off the rails, causing the train to come to an abrupt halt. According to initial reports, many passengers sustained injuries. While no deaths have been officially confirmed, rescue and relief operations are underway, and the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals.

Suspected Role of Baloch Separatists in the Blast

Investigators believe that Baloch separatist groups may be behind the attack, as they have frequently targeted railway infrastructure and security personnel in the region. Balochistan has long been plagued by instability, armed rebellion, and demands for autonomy, often resulting in violence against state institutions.

A History of Violence Against the Jaffar Express

This is not the first time the Jaffar Express has been attacked. In March this year, the train was hijacked by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) with approximately 350 passengers on board. The Pakistani Army conducted a challenging operation to regain control. While the BLA claimed it had killed more than 100 Pakistani soldiers during the standoff, the Pakistani military reported that 35 hostages were killed.

The Jaffar Express was operating between Quetta, the provincial capital of southwestern Balochistan, and Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, when this latest attack occurred.