Jaffar Express hit by IED attack; five coaches derail near Spezand
An explosive device planted on the railway tracks near Spezand Station in Balochistan caused five coaches of the Quetta-to-Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express to derail.
Pakistan Railways officials reported that the blast took place as train number 39UP was passing the area.
Rescue teams from railway and security agencies promptly reached the site and launched relief operations.
Authorities confirmed that all passengers were safe; however, due to security concerns, the train will be returned to Quetta.
Train services from Quetta will resume only after a thorough security clearance.
Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a “cowardly act of terrorism” that would not diminish the nation’s determination.
The explosion near Spezand resulted in multiple coaches derailing, as confirmed by Pakistan Railways.
The Jaffar Express, which covers a 1,632-kilometre route between Quetta and Peshawar in about 34 hours with roughly 40 stops, has previously been targeted in violent incidents.
Notably, in March 2025, the train was hijacked by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) near the Bolan Pass in a brazen attack involving explosives and gunfire.
That incident saw around 400 passengers taken hostage, prompting a large-scale rescue operation by security forces.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi stated that the attack on Jaffar Express was a well-planned act and part of a foreign conspiracy.
Abbasi emphasised that if authorities had prior intelligence about the attack, preventive measures would have been taken.
He reiterated that Pakistan continues to face terrorism, and all global powers, including China, the US, and Pakistan, stand united against terrorism.
The minister 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.
