Railway services to and from Balochistan remain suspended amid ongoing security concerns, with several major routes yet to be restored, officials said on Saturday.
According to Pakistan Railways, the Bolan Mail service between Quetta and Karachi has been suspended for the past 20 days, while other passenger trains, including the Jaffar Express running from Quetta to Peshawar via Lahore, have also been restricted from entering Balochistan.
Officials said the suspension was prompted by “security threats and a decline in passenger numbers.” They added that the Bolan Mail’s scheduled departure from Karachi on 9 October was cancelled, and its return service from Quetta was consequently halted.
Railway authorities described the measure as temporary, saying services would resume once the security situation improves and passenger demand increases. The department, they said, is in “continuous contact with security agencies” to ensure a safe environment for the restoration of operations.
Trains connecting Quetta with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have faced repeated disruptions in recent months following a series of attacks claimed by Baloch “pro-independence” armed groups. The groups say that Pakistani military personnel stationed in Balochistan often use trains for transport, making them potential targets.
In March, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express, holding more than 200 Pakistani military personnel hostage for three days. The group issued an ultimatum for a prisoner exchange, which the Pakistani state did not accept. The BLA later claimed to have executed the soldiers it had detained.
Since the incident, the Jaffar Express has faced multiple attacks and periodic service suspensions when entering Balochistan, with security officials citing the continuing threat of attacks along key railway routes.