ENISH_SLUG: quetta-train-services-suspended-balochistan-blast
Train services to and from Quetta and across vast stretches of Balochistan remained paralyzed for a second consecutive day on Friday, as railway officials cited “unavoidable circumstances” stemming from a devastating terrorist attack. The suspension has left thousands of passengers stranded and sparked protests at major stations.
Key Express Services Halted and Diverted
Railway authorities confirmed that the Jaffar Express, which runs from Quetta to Peshawar, would not depart on Friday. In a significant operational change, the return service traveling from Peshawar to Quetta will be terminated early and sent back from Jacobabad, effectively cutting off the provincial capital from the north.
The disruption extends to other critical routes. The Bolan Mail and Chaman Passenger services heading to Karachi were already halted, deepening the isolation of the region. Officials stated that all train operations within Balochistan have been suspended for the past 48 hours.
Ripple Effects Hit Karachi Terminals
The crisis is reverberating hundreds of kilometers away in Karachi, where several departures faced severe delays. Railway police reported that the Tezgam, originally scheduled for a 5:30pm departure, finally left the station at 1:30am. The delay prompted angry protests from passengers at Cantt Station.
The situation was even worse for travelers booked on the Sukkur Express. Scheduled to depart at 11:30pm, the train had still not left Karachi by Friday morning, leaving passengers in limbo.
Deadly Blast Precipitates Security Lockdown
The sweeping suspensions follow a lethal blast near the railway track close to Chaman Phatak in Quetta on May 24. A spokesperson for the Balochistan government reported that at least 14 people were martyred, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, with several women and children among the wounded.
Following the attack, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir issued a stern warning, vowing to crush terrorism with full force. In a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) during an Eid ul Adha visit to troops in Zhob District, Munir described the incident as a “cowardly terrorist” act orchestrated by “Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Hindustan and its proxies.”
“Such inhuman and brutal acts cannot weaken the resolve of the Pakistan Armed Forces or the nation,” the field marshal reaffirmed, stressing that the morale of troops and the people of Balochistan remains unshaken. He pledged that the armed forces, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, would relentlessly pursue all facilitators and perpetrators of terrorism.
