Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express hit with IED blast

No casualties were reported as rescue teams, railway staff swiftly reached site to safely assist passengers

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QUETTA:

A blast targeted the Jaffar Express on Sunday near Spezant in Dasht Tehsil of Mastung district, damaging the locomotive and several coaches, officials confirmed.

According to Levies authorities, an explosive device planted on the railway track detonated as the train passed, causing the engine and five bogies to derail. The sudden impact brought the passenger service to an abrupt halt.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Rescue teams and railway staff promptly reached the site to assist passengers and ensure their safety. Security forces quickly cordoned off the area and launched an operation against those responsible for the attack.

Officials stated that the explosives were locally manufactured, highlighting ongoing security concerns in the province. A formal investigation into the incident has been launched.

In response to the blast, security measures have been reinforced across the region, and train operations from Balochistan to other parts of the country have been temporarily suspended.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi strongly condemned the attack, vowing that such cowardly acts of terrorism would never deter the nation’s resolve.

This is not the first time the Jaffar Express has been targeted. A similar attack in November 2024 claimed the lives of 25 people and left 50 other injured.

More recently, Jaffar Express narrowly escaped an attack en route to Quetta when a bomb planted near the track at Sibi Railway Station reportedly went off just after the passenger train passed.