In March ,BLA,the group hijcked the Jaffer express and claimed to have killed at least six military personnel and blown up the railway track, forcing the train to a halt. The BLA warned that any military operation in response would have “severe consequences”. The attackers claimed that passengers on the train were hostages, although dozens of them later reached a nearby station, Panir.
Pakistan Railways authorities confirmed the explosion, which occurred near the outer signal of the track linking Balochistan to the rest of the country.
“The explosive device was planted near the outer railway signal and detonated shortly after the train passed, causing significant damage to the track but leaving the train unharmed,” a senior official told media.
However, the railway track was badly damaged in the blast.
“A portion of the railway track was blown up in the blast,” railway police officials said, adding that train service has been suspended after the explosion and Quetta-bound trains stopped at Jacobabad station. The repair of the damaged railway line has started.
Following the explosion, security forces rushed to the scene to investigate. Preliminary findings revealed that the explosive device had been remotely detonated.
Amid tight security, the Jaffar Express with over 400 passengers on board, restarted its journey and departed for Peshawar from Quetta railway station on Friday after remaining suspended for 17 days.
Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi had announced the government plan to resume Jaffar Express and Bolan Mail operations during his recent visit to Quetta.
Pakistan Railways had suspended its entire operations from Punjab and Sindh to Balochistan and vice versa, following the horrific attack on the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express claimed by Balochistan Liberation Army terrorists, killing many and taking passengers hostages in the Mashkaf area of Kachhi district on March 11. Consequently, the security forces conducted a successful operation that lasted two days.
Talking to Dawn, a senior official of Pakistan Railways said Jaffar Express, which had started its journey from Peshawar, reached Quetta on Friday night (March 28,2025).
He added that an Eid special train would also leave from Quetta on Saturday.
Member of the National Assembly Jamal Shah Kakar saw off the hundreds of passengers and expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi for the immediate measures taken for the restoration of the rail link.
Mr Kakar said the resumption of Jaffar Express service would provide convenience to passengers. He said the revival of railways was a positive development for the people of Balochistan.
Due to the suspension of rail services, airlines were charging exorbitant fares.
In addition to Jaffar Express, eight new trains would be operating from Balochistan.
Mr Kakar mentioned that he had raised his voice in the NA Standing Committee for the restoration of railways and the addition of more trains, which led to the announcement by the government to run eight more trains from Balochistan, in addition to the Jaffar Express.
Meanwhile, the divisional superintendent of railways confirmed to Dawn that security had been improved.
He said Jaffar Express, which had departed from Peshawar, reached Quetta at 8pm on Friday.