Attack on Jaffer Express

Attack near tunnel​

Railway officials said the train left Quetta for Peshawar around 9am, with 450 passengers in nine bogies. Around 1pm, they received information that the train had come under attack between the Paneer and Peshi railway stations, near Railway Tunnel No 8, located near Mashkaf.

The Mashkaf Tunnel is located around 157km from Quetta and approximately 21km from Sibi.



 The Mashkaf Tunnel is part of a series of tunnels, located around 157km from Quetta and approximately 21km from Sibi. — Map by DawnGIS/N

The Mashkaf Tunnel is part of a series of tunnels, located around 157km from Quetta and approximately 21km from Sibi. — Map by DawnGIS/N


Although the Quetta-Jacobabad N65 highway and the railway line run mostly side-by-side through the Bolan region, they diverge near the town of Mashkaf.

From here, the railway line takes a more direct path, cutting through the mountains and running along the Bolan River, rejoining the main road near Mach.

The Mashkaf Tunnel is located in a very isolated part of the area, with the nearest station located at Pehro Kunri. The next stop on the line towards Quetta is the stop at Paneer, just short of the Paneer Tunnel.

“Armed men fired rockets at the locomotive and opened fire, which caused the train to stop. The driver of the locomotive was seriously injured,” officials said, adding that a heavy exchange of fire took place between security personnel and the attackers.

Reports suggest that the attackers martyred a number of security personnel and hijacked the train. They then started checking passengers’ identities and took some passengers hostage before they fled.
 
Sources said that a large group of armed attackers, carrying automatic weapons and rocket launchers, were sheltered in the mountains. They also damaged the railway line with explosives.

“According to security sources, terrorists split into small groups due to security forces’ operation. Injured passengers have been shifted to nearby hospital while additional security squads are taking part in the operation in the area,” reports aired on state media said.
 
In Mashkaf, over 150km from Quetta, there is no cellular network or internet, so most people — much like myself — would make a beeline for the station.

Here I find Mohammad Arif, who is worried sick about his brother, a railway security guard who was on board the train.

Ever since he received the news that his brother was aboard, Arif has been trying to reach him.

“Over and over again, I am dialing his number, but to no avail.” After several failed attempts, he says, he came to the station in the hopes of getting some information about his well-being.

After some time, Rana Abdul Rauf arrived at the information desk. He was inquiring about his father, who was going to Lahore by the same train. He was quite worried as he hadn’t been able to reach him over the phone.

“My father is a diabetic… I don’t know where he is or how he is doing,” he said, visibly perturbed.

“I don’t know if I have had Iftar, or offered my prayers, I am very mentally disturbed,” he concluded.



 Passengers who were rescued from Jaffar Express train after it was attacked by terrorists, walk with their belongings at the Railway Station in Quetta, March 12, 2025. — Reuters


Passengers who were rescued from Jaffar Express train after it was attacked by terrorists, walk with their belongings at the Railway Station in Quetta, March 12, 2025. — Reuters
 
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So the argument is that we cannot afford to remain idle, so let’s jump off the cliff.

The situation was brought under control about 10 years ago. The question should be asked what did the Muhafiz of that time do that meri jind, meri jaan has failed at.
War is what brings them their revenue. It's the same reason why so many in the US Congress have shares in defence industries. War profiteering is a bloody bloody business, and for our military, you need a war for them to be satisfied
 
This is the crux of the problem. Internally this is the way forward. Unfortunately, this will never happen for the reasons we all understand.

This might hurt Pak bros - but I have never been convinced that Islam can ever be a unifying force. Let alone the basis on which to build a nation.

It doesn’t even stop one Muslim calling the other savage and doing horrifying things!

National unity requires plurality and Islam is about “conformity”.

Pakistan was a bold experiment of this hypothesis.

It failed first with Bangladesh.

And now looks like Balochistan is next.

Learn from the mistakes of 1971 and come to an amicable solution.
 
This might hurt Pak bros - but I have never been convinced that Islam can ever be a unifying force. Let alone the basis on which to build a nation.

It doesn’t even stop one Muslim calling the other savage and doing horrifying things!

National unity requires plurality and Islam is about “conformity”.

Pakistan was a bold experiment of this hypothesis.

It failed first with Bangladesh.

And now looks like Balochistan is next.

Learn from the mistakes of 1971 and come to an amicable solution.
Unfortunately I'll have to agree
Islam doesn't support the idea of statehood, it supports the idea of an Ummah. And really are we as an Ummah united?
Hell we aren't united right now just take a glance online (sure it's different online compared to in person) we've got tons of ethno-nationalists propping up
 
Criminal incompetence of current selected regime and Military. Imran Khan would have done better in last three years. US and Army colluded to overthrow popularly elected government because Imran Khan was neutral in Russia-Ukraine war. This past month showed that Imran’ Ukraine policy was best for Pakistan. The current security situation in Pakistan shows Army is just paper tiger used for arresting Imran Khan’s supporters.
 
Unfortunately I'll have to agree
Islam doesn't support the idea of statehood, it supports the idea of an Ummah. And really are we as an Ummah united?
Hell we aren't united right now just take a glance online (sure it's different online compared to in person) we've got tons of ethno-nationalists propping up
So why should Baloch or anyone seek statehood in Pakistan? Why not based on their own ethnicity? What is the anti-thesis of that?

Yeh apna apna chooran baich rahay hien. Including the ones supporting and fueling it.
 
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So why should Baloch or anyone seek statehood in Pakistan? Why not based on their own ethnicity? What is the anti-thesis of that?

Yeh apna apna chooran baich rahay hien. Including the ones supporting and fueling it.
I think at that point Pakistan ceases to be a nation. It's a complex matter, the baluch deserve their rights, development in their province and then benefitting from it, same goes for everyone else. But really has the state done anything about that?
 
An example of our landay ka Goebbels and his attempts at propaganda

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And then labeling those released as rescued. WHo tf are they even trying to fool?
 

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