Six coaches of Pakistan’s Jaffar Express derailed after a blast on tracks near Jacobabad. The Baloch Republican Guards claimed responsibility for the attack using a remote-controlled device. No casualties reported, but the incident adds to growing security concerns in Balochistan following recent militant violence targeting the railway system.
In yet another disturbing incident of insurgent violence in Pakistan, six coaches of the Jaffar Express derailed on Wednesday following an explosion on the railway tracks near Jacobabad, situated in Sindh province. The train was travelling from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, to Peshawar when the blast occurred. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the aftermath.
According to police officials, the explosion created a crater roughly three feet wide and deep, damaging approximately six feet of the railway track. Initial assessments suggest that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the railway line. Authorities have since secured the area and launched a formal investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances behind the blast.
The Baloch Republican Guards (BRG), an armed Baloch separatist group, have claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement published by The Balochistan Post, the group’s spokesperson, Dosteen Baloch, confirmed that their operatives carried out the blast using a remote-controlled explosive device near the Jacobabad cattle market. The spokesperson further asserted that the attack was directed against what they described as “the occupying Pakistani army,” alleging that the Jaffar Express is often used for military logistics and the movement of personnel.
“In today’s attack, six coaches of the train derailed. The Jaffar Express is used by the occupying Pakistani army for the movement of its personnel, and our attacks will be severe in the future,” said the spokesperson, as per the translated statement. “Our organisation accepts responsibility for these attacks. Our such attacks will continue until the independence of Balochistan,” the statement added.
Videos circulating on social media platforms show scenes of families, including children, safely disembarking from the derailed train. Many were seen retrieving their luggage and comforting one another, while railway and security officials began emergency response operations.
Though there were no injuries or fatalities reported in this attack, the incident highlights the growing security challenges in Pakistan’s Balochistan and adjoining regions. It also marks yet another instance of targeted sabotage on the Jaffar Express, a key passenger train service in the country.
This is not the first time the Jaffar Express has been the target of militant activity. In a more severe incident earlier this year, in March, insurgents belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the same train near Quetta. That horrifying event saw hundreds of passengers taken hostage and more than two dozen security personnel killed in the ensuing violence. The military later declared the rescue operation a success, confirming that 346 hostages had been safely evacuated and around 50 insurgents had been neutralised during the operation.
The repeated targeting of the Jaffar Express by separatist groups such as the BRG and BLA underscores the tense and volatile nature of the region. Baloch separatist movements have long accused the Pakistani state of exploiting the region’s resources while marginalising its native population. High-profile infrastructure projects, such as the Reko Diq copper-gold mining venture, have become flashpoints for resentment and violence.
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This latest attack not only jeopardises the safety of civilians but also raises critical questions about Pakistan’s railway security protocols, particularly in high-risk areas. It further underscores the persistent threat posed by armed separatist factions and the challenge of maintaining stability in a region rife with historical grievances and insurgent violence.
Authorities have promised a thorough investigation and enhanced security measures in the affected areas. However, given the pattern of past attacks, both the state and the public remain wary of further incidents in the near future.
