An explosion hit a railway track in Mastung’s Dasht area on Tuesday, targeting the Jaffar Express from Peshawar to Quetta and injuring around a dozen passengers.
Officials said an IED planted near the track went off as the train passed, derailing four bogies and wounding several, including women and children. Rescue teams and security forces rushed to the scene, moving the injured to Quetta hospitals where an emergency was declared. Some passengers remain in critical condition.
Railway authorities confirmed heavy track damage, suspending services in the area. No group has claimed responsibility, and Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has ordered an inquiry with a 24-hour report.
This attack comes months after terrorists hijacked the Jaffar Express in Bolan, killing 21 passengers before security forces cleared the train and eliminated 33 militants. The attackers, linked to the banned BLA’s Majeed Brigade, were found to be operating from Afghanistan.
Earlier this week, Gul Rahman alias Ustad Mureed, the mastermind behind the hijacking, was killed in Afghanistan’s Helmand province. Pakistani officials say the BLA and its Majeed Brigade, supported by India, continue to destabilise Balochistan.
The US recently designated the BLA and its Majeed Brigade as Foreign Terrorist Organisations, highlighting their involvement in attacks on civilians, security forces, Chinese nationals, and key installations across Pakistan.
In recent attacks on Jaffar Express, Train Driver Amjad Yaseen Martyred
