The Jaffar Express, repeatedly targeted in recent months, narrowly escaped another bomb attack on Sunday in Balochistan’s Nasirabad district, officials confirmed. Police said unidentified attackers planted an explosive device on the railway track in the Shaheed Abdul Aziz Bullo area, detonating it moments after the Peshawar-bound train had passed.
No casualties were reported, and the train continued its journey safely. Nasirabad Senior Superintendent of Police Ghulam Sarwar told Dawn that security personnel swiftly reached the site, cordoned off the area and launched an investigation. “A search operation has also been initiated to trace the elements involved in the bomb attack,” he said.
The train passed the area safely and no loss of life was reported, officials said.https://t.co/mYDT2FII4y
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 16, 2025
Railway officials stated that a section of the track was damaged in the blast, resulting in the suspension of rail traffic between Quetta and the rest of the country. The Jaffar Express, however, proceeded toward Peshawar after reaching Jacobabad in Sindh. The train had resumed operations earlier in the day following a four-day suspension prompted by security concerns.
The incident adds to a troubling pattern of attacks targeting railway infrastructure in Balochistan, where militants have increasingly struck train routes amid rising terrorism in the province. The Jaffar Express, in particular, has faced repeated assaults since March 11, when Balochistan Liberation Army militants ambushed the Peshawar-bound train carrying 440 passengers, opening fire and taking hostages. Security forces launched a two-day operation to clear the area, with Inter-Services Public Relations chief Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry later confirming that all 33 attackers involved had been killed.
Subsequent months saw further attempts on the train. On June 18, a remote-controlled blast derailed four bogies near Jacobabad. In August, the train narrowly avoided disaster when a bomb exploded near Sibi Railway Station shortly after it passed, followed days later by another blast in Mastung that derailed six bogies. Additional attacks in September and October — including bombings near Spezand and Shikarpur and even a failed rocket attack in Nasirabad — underscore the persistent threat to the route.
Sunday’s explosion marks yet another reminder of the vulnerability of transport infrastructure in conflict-hit regions, prompting renewed concerns over passenger safety and the security of key rail links in Balochistan.
You May Also Like: KP Peace Jirga Urges Centre to Prioritise Dialogue with Kabul, Consult Province on Afghan Policy
Check out our latest video:
