By : Manisha Sahu
America News World
October 07, 2025
The Jaffar Express, one of Pakistan’s most frequently targeted passenger trains, was derailed yet again on Tuesday after a powerful explosion struck a section of its track in Sindh’s Shikarpur district. The blast injured several passengers and caused five coaches to derail, marking the latest in a string of attacks against the Quetta–Peshawar route that has become a flashpoint for repeated militant strikes.
Explosion Derails Five Coaches
According to railway and police officials quoted by local media and the Press Trust of India (PTI), the blast occurred near Somarwah, close to Sultan Kot in the Shikarpur district of Sindh province. The explosion ripped through the railway track just as the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was passing, violently throwing several coaches off the rails.
Emergency responders rushed to the site soon after the blast. Railway police and paramilitary forces quickly sealed off the area and began rescue operations to assist injured passengers trapped inside the derailed coaches. Victims were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, though officials have not yet confirmed any fatalities.
“Rescue operations are ongoing, and we are assessing the full extent of injuries and damage,” a local railway police officer told PTI. Initial reports suggest that the track sustained extensive damage, raising concerns over security measures on Pakistan’s vital passenger routes.
Related pages :-“Pakistan Train Hijacking: Inside the Baloch Insurgency Behind the Jaffar Express Attack”
Security Forces Begin Investigation
Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation to determine the nature and source of the explosion. While no group has yet claimed responsibility, officials believe that ethnic Baloch insurgent factions operating in southern Pakistan could be behind the attack.
“The pattern of the assault is consistent with earlier incidents carried out by Baloch separatist groups,” said a senior law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “We are collecting forensic evidence from the site to identify the type of explosive used and to trace those responsible.”
Security personnel cordoned off the blast site, and special bomb disposal units were deployed to ensure there were no secondary explosives planted along the railway line.
A Troubled History of Attacks
The Jaffar Express, which operates daily between Quetta and Peshawar, has faced a disturbing number of attacks in recent months, making it one of the most targeted civilian transport routes in Pakistan.
In September 2025, an explosion on the same line in Balochistan’s Mastung area derailed six coaches and injured at least 12 passengers. Just a month earlier, on August 10, four people were wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED) caused six coaches to derail, also in Mastung.
In another attack on August 4, militants opened fire on a pilot engine sent to clear the route near Kolpur — an assault later claimed by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). That incident forced authorities to suspend services temporarily while reinforcing security along the vulnerable stretches of track.
Earlier, in June 2025, an explosion in Sindh’s Jacobabad district derailed four coaches of the Jaffar Express. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in that incident, but it highlighted growing concerns over militant infiltration in Pakistan’s southern and southwestern provinces.
The most devastating attack, however, occurred on March 11, 2025, when militants hijacked the Jaffar Express in Balochistan. The standoff resulted in the deaths of 26 people, including passengers and security personnel. Pakistani forces later killed 33 insurgents and rescued 354 hostages in a large-scale counter-operation that lasted nearly 12 hours.
Insurgency in Balochistan and Beyond
Pakistan has long battled ethnic insurgent movements in its mineral-rich Balochistan province. Several separatist groups, including the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Republican Army (BRA), have waged an armed campaign for greater autonomy and control over the region’s natural resources.
These groups frequently target infrastructure projects, railway lines, and energy pipelines, which they claim are being exploited by the federal government at the expense of local communities.
Security experts say that the recent escalation in attacks on rail networks may be an attempt to disrupt domestic connectivity and weaken Pakistan’s internal trade routes linking Balochistan, Sindh, and Punjab.
“The Jaffar Express has become symbolic for the insurgents — it represents the link between Pakistan’s western and eastern corridors,” said security analyst Rahim Ullah from the Islamabad Policy Research Institute. “By attacking it repeatedly, militants send a message of defiance to the state.”
Calls for Enhanced Security
Following Tuesday’s explosion, officials from Pakistan Railways and the federal government vowed to strengthen surveillance along key routes. Proposals include deploying additional paramilitary guards on sensitive stretches, installing CCTV monitoring at remote junctions, and increasing intelligence coordination between provincial and federal agencies.
“We are committed to protecting passengers and ensuring uninterrupted train operations,” a senior railway ministry spokesperson told America News World. “The Jaffar Express will resume services once safety inspections are completed.”
However, railway workers’ unions have criticized what they describe as “persistent negligence” in security arrangements despite repeated warnings. They argue that recurring incidents highlight a systemic failure in intelligence sharing and preventive patrolling.
A Nation on Edge
Tuesday’s attack underscores the fragile security situation in Pakistan, particularly in areas bordering Balochistan and Sindh. While militant violence has decreased in recent years, renewed insurgent activity poses a growing challenge for authorities attempting to stabilize the country’s transport and trade infrastructure.
As investigators work to determine who was behind the latest explosion, passengers and railway staff remain anxious. For many, the Jaffar Express — once a symbol of national connectivity — has now become a chilling reminder of Pakistan’s enduring struggle against insurgent violence.
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