Pakistan: Jaffar Express Targeted Again As IED Explodes Moments After Train Passes In Balochistan

The Jaffar Express narrowly escaped another bombing attempt on Sunday when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the railway track detonated just seconds after the train passed through Balochistan's Nasirabad district. Police and railway officials confirmed that this incident is the latest in a series of repeated attacks on the passenger train.

According to officials, unidentified attackers planted the explosive device on the railway track in the Shaheed Abdul Aziz Bullo area. The device exploded moments after the Quetta-to-Peshawar train crossed the spot. No casualties or damage were reported, ANI said, quoting Dawn.

Nasirabad Senior Superintendent of Police Ghulam Sarwar said that police and security forces rushed to the site, cordoned off the area, and launched an investigation. A search operation is underway to identify those behind the attack. Railway officials confirmed that a portion of the track was damaged, halting rail traffic between Quetta and other regions.

The Jaffar Express continued its journey toward Peshawar after reaching Jacobabad in Sindh. Services had resumed only on Sunday after a four-day suspension due to security concerns. Pakistan Railways had halted the train's operations from November 9 to 12 after intelligence agencies warned of heightened threats. The suspension was implemented to protect passengers, railway staff, civilians, and critical rail infrastructure.

The Jaffar Express has been repeatedly targeted in recent months. In March, the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the train with 380 passengers onboard, leading to a two-day standoff that left 26 people dead. Security forces rescued 354 passengers, while 33 insurgents were killed in the operation.

In October, several passengers were injured when an explosion derailed five coaches of the train in Sindh. In September, another blast in Mastung damaged one coach and derailed six others, injuring 12 people. On August 10, an IED blast in Mastung derailed six coaches and wounded four passengers. Days earlier, on August 4, the pilot engine used for track inspection came under gunfire near Kolpur, an attack claimed by the BLA.

The train has also been targeted repeatedly in Sindh. In July, three coaches derailed after an explosion, and in June, a blast in Jacobabad derailed four coaches without causing casualties. One of the deadliest incidents occurred last November, when a suicide bomber detonated himself at the Quetta railway station, killing at least 26 people and injuring dozens.

Security agencies say insurgent groups continue to exploit Balochistan's rugged and remote terrain to attack railway tracks, trains, and convoys, posing ongoing risks to transportation and security infrastructure.