A powerful explosion derailed multiple coaches of the Jaffar Express in Sultan Kot, Pakistan, on Tuesday, leaving several passengers injured. Authorities confirmed that the blast was caused by a remote-controlled improvised explosive device (IED) planted along the railway track.
The Balochistan Republican Guards (BRG) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that the target included Pakistani army personnel traveling on board. The group said the strike was part of its ongoing campaign against “occupying forces” in Balochistan.
The train, traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, was hit near Shikarpur district, leading to the derailment of at least six coaches. Local authorities said four civilians were injured, while unverified reports from militant sources claimed several soldiers were killed.
“The train was attacked at a time when army personnel were traveling onboard,” BRG said in a statement circulated online.
The explosion damaged a significant portion of the track and halted rail traffic in the region. Shikarpur Police said rescue and recovery operations were underway, with injured passengers shifted to nearby hospitals.
The Jaffar Express, which frequently carries military personnel between Quetta (Balochistan) and Punjab, has been targeted multiple times in the past.
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In March 2025, the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the same train.
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In 2023, it was attacked twice in separate incidents.
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On the same date in 2016, a twin explosion near Machh killed six people and injured 19 others.
Security officials have long considered this route a high-risk corridor due to recurring insurgent violence.
Tuesday’s attack underscores Pakistan’s ongoing struggle to contain Baloch separatist militancy, even as Islamabad faces internal political instability and a fragile economy. Analysts warn that rail infrastructure has become a soft target, symbolizing the state’s vulnerability in volatile border regions.
