BLA claims Jaffar Express blast in Balochistan, 27 killed
Synopsis
On Eid, the BLA's suicide unit targeted a military shuttle of the Jaffar Express near Quetta, killing 27 and injuring 131 — one of the deadliest single attacks on Pakistani military personnel in Balochistan in recent memory. The group named a 25-year-old commander as the attacker and framed the strike as proof of a strategic leap from guerrilla tactics to organised military operations.
Key Takeaways
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack on a Jaffar Express shuttle near Quetta on Sunday, 25 May 2025 .
At least 27 people were killed and 131 injured ; the death toll may rise as critically injured remain hospitalised.
The attack targeted Pakistani military personnel travelling from Quetta Cantonment to Quetta Railway Station on Eid .
The BLA identified the attacker as Bilal Shahwani , alias 'Sain', a 25-year-old Majeed Brigade commander who joined the separatist movement in 2020 .
Three coaches including the engine derailed; two bogies were completely overturned, according to Railways Minister Haniff Abbasi .
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Sunday, 25 May 2025 claimed responsibility for a suicide bomb attack targeting a shuttle of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, Pakistan, killing at least 27 people and injuring 131 others. The shuttle, carrying Pakistani military personnel, was struck near Chaman Phatak shortly after departing from Quetta Cantonment railway station.
How the Attack Unfolded
According to Pakistan's Federal Minister for Railways Haniff Abbasi, the explosion occurred near Chaman Phatak as a three-bogie shuttle — connected to the Jaffar Express and transporting army personnel from Quetta Cantt to Quetta Railway Station on the occasion of Eid — was in transit. Three coaches, including the engine, derailed in the blast; two bogies were completely overturned, according to Abbasi.
The minister warned that the death toll of 27 could rise further, as a number of the 131 injured remain in critical condition.
BLA Claims the Attack
A statement issued by BLA spokesperson Jayend Baloch confirmed that the organisation's fidayeen suicide unit, the 'Majeed Brigade', carried out the attack. The BLA identified the attacker as Bilal Shahwani, alias 'Sain', a 25-year-old commander within the Majeed Brigade and a resident of the Sariab locality of Shaal area. According to the BLA's statement, Shahwani joined the Baloch Resistance Movement for Independence in 2020.
The BLA further claimed that the ability to target military personnel 'secretly' moving by shuttle was evidence of the 'deep penetration' of its intelligence wing, referred to as 'Zarab'.
BLA's Strategic Framing
In its statement, the BLA described the attack as reflecting a structural evolution in its operations — moving, in its own words, 'beyond the traditional guerrilla method' toward what it characterised as a 'modern military structure.' The group claimed that organisational commanders now 'prioritise collective national goals over individual material roles.' These claims have not been independently verified.
Notably, the Majeed Brigade has been linked to several high-profile attacks in Balochistan in recent years, making this latest strike part of a pattern of escalating militant activity in the province.
Casualties and Rescue Operations
Rescue teams were deployed to the site following the blast. At least 27 people were confirmed killed and 131 injured, according to reports citing Pakistani authorities. The final toll is expected to be revised as rescue operations continue and the condition of critically injured persons becomes clearer.
The attack comes amid a broader, long-running insurgency in Balochistan, Pakistan's largest but least-developed province, where separatist groups have for decades clashed with the Pakistani state over political autonomy and resource rights. With casualties still being counted, the full scale of this strike may yet prove worse.
Point of View
Complete with his intelligence-unit affiliation and recruitment year, signals a deliberate shift in its information strategy: building a martyrdom narrative to aid recruitment. What mainstream coverage often misses is that the Majeed Brigade has been operational for years, and each successive attack is more sophisticated than the last — raising serious questions about the effectiveness of Pakistan's counter-insurgency posture in Balochistan. The claim of 'deep intelligence penetration' of military movements, if credible, points to a security failure that goes well beyond a single train blast.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who carried out the Jaffar Express blast in Balochistan?
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility, stating that its suicide unit, the Majeed Brigade, carried out the attack. The group identified the attacker as 25-year-old Bilal Shahwani, a Majeed Brigade commander.
How many people were killed in the Quetta train blast?
At least 27 people were killed and 131 others were injured, according to Pakistan's Federal Minister for Railways Haniff Abbasi. The death toll may rise as some of the injured are in critical condition.
Where exactly did the Jaffar Express blast occur?
The explosion took place near Chaman Phatak in Quetta, Balochistan, as the shuttle was travelling from Quetta Cantonment to Quetta Railway Station. Three coaches, including the engine, derailed in the blast.
Who was Bilal Shahwani, the identified attacker?
Bilal Shahwani, alias 'Sain', was a 25-year-old resident of the Sariab locality of Shaal area in Balochistan. According to the BLA's statement, he joined the Baloch Resistance Movement for Independence in 2020 and rose to become a commander in the Majeed Brigade suicide unit.
What is the Majeed Brigade?
The Majeed Brigade is the fidayeen (suicide) unit of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant organisation active in Balochistan, Pakistan. It has been linked to multiple high-profile attacks on Pakistani military and state targets in recent years.
