Who Are the Unidentified Attackers Behind the Railway Track Explosion in Balochistan?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Unidentified attackers blew up a railway track in Balochistan.
- Train services between Quetta and the rest of the country were suspended.
- Authorities are investigating the incident to identify the perpetrators.
- Fortunately, there were no casualties reported during the explosion.
- This is part of a worrying trend of attacks on infrastructure in the region.
Quetta, Jan 20 (NationPress) — An essential railway line near Dera Murad Jamali in Balochistan, Pakistan, was destroyed by unknown assailants, halting train services between Quetta and the rest of the nation for several hours, according to local news sources on Tuesday.
Authorities indicated that the attackers planted an explosive device on the main railway track in Dera Murad Jamali on Monday, which was subsequently detonated, as reported by Dawn, a prominent Pakistani daily.
Police officials disclosed, "About a two-foot section of the track was compromised, disrupting rail operations." They noted that law enforcement arrived on the scene promptly after the explosion and began an inquiry.
It was revealed that the explosive device was activated via remote control and approximately three kilograms of explosives were employed for the blast.
Earlier in January, another explosion targeted a railway track near the national highway in Notal, located in Nasirabad, Balochistan, where unknown assailants used explosives.
The incident occurred when no trains were in transit, leading to partial damage of the track. Fortunately, there were no casualties or property damage, according to police sources, as reported by The Express Tribune.
Following the recent blast, train operations were temporarily halted due to the damage. Railway officials were focused on repairing the affected section. Authorities confirmed that investigations have commenced to apprehend those responsible for this attack.
In December of the previous year, a bomb explosion occurred on the railway track near Dera Murad Jamali, while police successfully defused another explosive device. Miscreants had placed an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the main railway line near the Notal area, which detonated before the Jaffar Express, traveling from Peshawar to Quetta, reached the location, as reported by Dawn.
In November, the Jaffar Express was targeted in the Bolan Pass area of Balochistan. Railway officials noted that armed individuals fired upon the train when it neared Aab-i-Gum. Security personnel on board the train retaliated, and the attackers fled the scene after a brief exchange of gunfire. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.