On Thursday, the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express narrowly avoided tragedy when an explosive device planted alongside the railway track near Sibi Railway Station detonated moments after the train had safely passed. Authorities from Pakistan Railways confirmed the incident, highlighting the severity of the attack on a critical rail link in Balochistan.
According to officials, the bomb was positioned close to the outer railway signal—a key point on the track connecting Balochistan to the rest of Pakistan. Although the blast caused extensive damage to the railway line, the train itself emerged unharmed. “The device went off just after the train passed, damaging a segment of the track,” a senior railway official explained to Dawn.
The explosion forced the immediate suspension of train services on this route. As a precaution, all Quetta-bound trains were halted at Jacobabad station until repairs could be carried out. Railway police reported that repair teams have already begun work to restore the damaged section.
Security forces quickly arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation. Early evidence indicates that the bomb was triggered remotely, underscoring the level of planning involved in the attack. This incident adds to ongoing security concerns in the region, where infrastructure has frequently been targeted.
While the quick timing of the detonation spared the Jaffar Express and its passengers from harm, the attack highlights vulnerabilities in securing vital transportation routes in Balochistan, a region critical for connectivity and economic activity in Pakistan.
