A railway track near the National Highway in the Notal area of Nasirabad district, Balochistan, was targeted in an explosion carried out by militants belonging to a proscribed terrorist network, police said on Wednesday.
According to officials, the blast occurred at a time when no train was passing through the area. While a portion of the railway track sustained partial damage, no loss of life or property was reported.
The sound of the explosion was heard from a considerable distance, prompting a swift response from police and security forces, who cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those responsible.
Railway traffic was temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure. However, railway authorities immediately initiated repair work to restore the damaged section of the track.
Authorities said investigations into the incident are under way and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti has taken notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from the relevant authorities.
The incident underscores the persistent security challenges in Balochistan, where railway infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted in recent years. Citizens have been urged to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station without delay.
Security Context
Officials noted that sustained counter-terrorism operations have significantly degraded the operational and tactical capabilities of banned outfits such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF). As a result, these groups have increasingly resorted to attacks on construction machinery, civilian targets, and the use of online propaganda and indoctrination to recruit foot soldiers.
In November, security forces defused an improvised explosive device weighing over 3.5 kilograms near a railway track in the Dera Murad Jamali area of Nasirabad, averting what police described as a “major disaster”.
Last year, in March, the Jaffar Express, carrying around 440 passengers, was hijacked near the Sibi area, resulting in the deaths of 21 passengers and four security personnel. The banned BLA claimed responsibility for the attack.
The United States has designated the BLA and its alias, the Majeed Brigade, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).
