IED Explosion Hits Jaffer Express, Casualties Reported in Mastung

Quetta: A powerful explosion derailed the Jaffer Express in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Monday, overturning several coaches and causing significant damage to the train. At least three compartments were reported destroyed in the blast, which left women and children trapped inside the wreckage. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and began pulling survivors from the mangled coaches, as footage emerged showing the train lying on its side after the explosion.

According to initial reports, the blast was triggered by an improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the railway track in the Dashat area. The passenger train, traveling from Peshawar to Quetta, was forced off the rails by the impact. Injured passengers were transferred to hospitals in Quetta, where an emergency was declared to ensure adequate medical care. Authorities have yet to confirm the number of casualties.

The attack came just hours after Pakistani security forces reported using explosives to clear railway tracks in the province. The back-to-back incidents have heightened concerns over the security of vital transport routes in conflict-hit Balochistan.

Railway officials confirmed that the explosion caused extensive damage to the tracks, forcing a suspension of train services in the region. Federal Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident.

The Jaffer Express has previously faced serious security threats. In March 2025, Baloch insurgents hijacked the train in Balochistan, killing several passengers. With separatist violence long plaguing the province, the latest derailment underscores the growing threat posed by militant groups targeting key infrastructure.