Balochistan News: Jaffar Express Targeted Again in Balochistan: IED Blast Derails Train, Injures Several Passengers

In yet another act of sabotage in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, the Jaffar Express was targeted once again on Monday, causing panic and disrupting rail services. A powerful explosion near Jacobabad caused four coaches to derail, injuring multiple passengers. 

An explosion occurred on the railway track near Jacobabad, Balochistan province causing four coaches of the Jaffar Express to derail. The train was en route from Peshawar to Quetta. According to police, the blast left a 3-foot-wide crater on the track, and around 6 feet of the… pic.twitter.com/ltXbrEUwdt

— Abdullah Jan Sabir (@AbdullahJanSab1) June 18, 2025

The passenger train, which was travelling from Peshawar to Quetta, was struck by what officials believe to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted on the railway track. According to police, the blast created a crater about three feet deep and wide, and destroyed nearly six feet of track.

Terror on the Tracks

Initial reports from Pakistani media indicate that the impact of the explosion was so intense that the train’s wheels were thrown off the tracks, bringing the train to a sudden, violent halt. Fortunately, no deaths have been confirmed yet, though many passengers have suffered injuries. Emergency rescue teams have reached the site and are transporting the wounded to nearby hospitals.

Police sources suspect the involvement of Baloch separatist groups, which have a history of targeting rail infrastructure and security forces in the region. A full investigation has been launched to identify the perpetrators and secure the area.

Not the First Attack

This is not the first time the Jaffar Express has been targeted. The train has faced repeated attacks in the volatile Balochistan region, which has been grappling with decades of instability, separatist movements, and military resistance.

In March 2025, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express, holding over 350 passengers hostage near Sibi city, around 160 km from Quetta. After a prolonged and tense operation, the Pakistani military managed to regain control of the train. However, the BLA claimed it had killed over 100 Pakistani soldiers, while official figures from Pakistan stated 35 hostages were killed.

The Jaffar Express, which connects Quetta in Balochistan to Peshawar in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is considered a symbolic and strategic target for insurgent groups like the BLA, who aim to draw attention to their demand for an independent Balochistan.

Rising Security Concerns

The repeated targeting of critical infrastructure has once again raised concerns over Pakistan’s internal security, particularly in Balochistan, which remains a hotspot for insurgent violence and ethnic unrest. The government is yet to issue an official statement on Monday’s incident, but intelligence and railway authorities are said to be on high alert.

With tensions escalating in the region, the attack on Jaffar Express has once again highlighted the vulnerability of civilian transportation in conflict-hit zones, and the urgency for stronger security measures to protect vital national infrastructure.