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Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Balochistan train service suspended: IED explosion derails five Jaffar Express coaches
QUETTA: An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast derailed five coaches of the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express in Balochistan on Sunday, Railways confirmed in yet another attack targeting the train. The IED blast took place on a train track near Quetta's Spezand Railway Station on Sunday morning, the railways said in a press release. It added that five coaches of the 39-Up Jaffar Express train, which runs from Quetta to Peshawar, had been derailed while all passengers remained safe. 'Railway and security teams are present at the scene, and rescue operations have begun,' the statement said. It said the railway administration will bring passengers back to Quetta in light of the security situation, adding that train operations from Quetta will resume after authorities provide security clearance. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi condemned the attack. 'Terrorists' cowardly acts cannot weaken our resolve,' Abbasi said in a statement issued by railways. Abbasi stated that the attack on Jaffar Express was a well-planned act and part of a foreign conspiracy. He emphasised that if authorities had prior intelligence about the attack, preventive measures would have been taken. The Minister reiterated that Pakistan continues to face terrorism, and all global powers, including China, the US, and Pakistan, stand united against terrorism. He confirmed that all passengers have been rescued from the train, while efforts are underway to evacuate more. While the cause of today's blast is yet to be officially confirmed, the attack has raised fresh concerns about the security of railway routes in Balochistan's remote and volatile regions. Meanwhile, Railways Minister said that owing to poor security conditions train operation being suspended in Balochistan for some days. Federal Minister Hanif Abbasi has stated that Peshawar to Quetta Jaffar Express service will remain suspended from August 10 to 13, while Peshawar bound Jaffar Express from Quetta to remain suspended from 11-14 August. Meanwhile, Karachi to Quetta Bolan Mail's operation has been suspended from August 10 to 15, railway minister said. He said the train operation from Quetta will be resumed after issuance of the security clearance.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Peshawar-Bound Jaffar Express In Pakistan Struck Again, Hit With IED Blast; 5 Injured
At least five people were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeted the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province. At least five people were injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeted the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express train in Mastung district of Pakistan's Balochistan province, derailing five coaches, according to Pakistan Railway officials. On Sunday, the Jaffar Express was struck by a blast near the Spezand Railway Station, derailing five coaches, The Express Tribune reported. All five passengers sustained minor injuries, and rescue teams, including railway staff, were immediately dispatched to the site. Officials said the Jaffar Express had departed for Peshawar at 9:00 am today and was passing through Spezand Railway Station when the IED hit. A second train was dispatched to the station to transport stranded passengers. Security forces and police cordoned off the area, and the bomb squad cleared the site. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi strongly denounced the attack, affirming that such cowardly acts of terrorism would never shake the nation's resolve. Attacks On Jaffar Express The Baloch outfit dubbed the hijacking 'Operation Darra-e-Bolan 2.0," which unfolded in Bolan, located in Pakistan's province of Balochistan. The attack came as a huge embarrassment for the Pakistani establishment, and the bodies of at least 25 people, including 21 hostages, were retrieved from the train hijack site. Hundreds of passengers were taken hostage and over two dozen security personnel of Pakistan were killed by BLA forces. Gunmen from the Baloch militant group had 'bombed the railway track" and taken control of the train in Sibi after wounding the driver. BLA fighters accused Pakistan of extrajudicially killing Baloch people and taking the Balochistan province to ruination. One of them slammed the United Nations and human rights organisations of remaining silent over the Baloch 'genocide". Last week, a Quetta-bound Jaffar Express narrowly escaped disaster when a bomb planted near the track close to Sibi Railway Station exploded just after the passenger train passed, according to Dawn. A portion of the railway track was blown up in the blast, but the train remained unharmed. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Four injured as blast hits railway station in Quetta
Listen to article At least four people were injured on Sunday when an improvised explosive device (IED) derailed five coaches of Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express at Spezand Railway Station in Mastung, according to Pakistan Railways (PR) officials. The blast struck a train track near Spezand Railway Station derailing 39-Up Jaffar Express train, which runs from Quetta to Peshawar. All five passengers sustained minor injuries, PR officials said, adding that rescue teams, including railways staff, were immediately dispatched to the site. Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi strongly condemned the attack, vowing that such cowardly acts of terrorism would never deter the nation's resolve. Read: At least 25 killed, over 50 injured in Quetta railway station blast The Jaffar Express had departed for Peshawar at 9.00am and was passing through Spezand Railway Station when the IED hit. A relief train was dispatched to the station to transport stranded passengers. Security forces and police cordoned off the area. The bomb disposal squad is clearing the site, after which the passengers will be shifted to Quetta Railway Station via the relief train. 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 last week when a bomb planted near the track at Sibi Railway Station reportedly went off just after the passenger train passed. PR authorities confirmed the explosion to the media and stated that the blast occured near the outer signal of the track linking Balochistan to the rest of the country.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business Recorder
IED blast derails Jaffar Express coaches near Quetta
An improvised explosive device (IED) blast near Spezand Station in Quetta on Sunday caused five coaches of the 39-Up Jaffar Express, bound for Peshawar, to derail, Pakistan Railways said. According to officials, all passengers remained safe in the incident. Railway and security teams reached the site shortly after the blast and launched rescue operations. In view of the security situation, the railway administration said the passengers would be brought back to Quetta. Train operations from Quetta will resume after security clearance is obtained. 'Terrorists' cowardly acts cannot weaken our resolve,' Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi said in a statement.
The Hindu
02-08-2025
- The Hindu
Coaches of passenger train derail in Pakistan, at least 30 injured
At least 30 passengers were injured after several coaches of a train derailed near Lahore, officials said on Saturday (August 2, 2025). According to the Pakistan Railways, the Islamabad Express that was going to Rawalpindi from Lahore derailed at Kala Shah Kaku, Sheikhupura, some 50 km from Lahore, on Friday (August 1, 2025) evening. "At least 10 coaches of the train have been derailed in Sheikhupura, leaving about 30 passengers injured. Three of them are critical," the railways said in a statement late on Friday (August 1, 2025) night. Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to rescue some passengers who are still trapped in the coaches, according to the officials. The railways said so far, no casualty has been reported. It further said the train coaches derailed half an hour after leaving Lahore railway station. Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi took notice of the derailment and directed the Railways CEO and the divisional superintendent to reach the site of the accident and monitor the situation. He also directed them to launch a probe into the matter and submit the inquiry findings within 7 days.
