Pakistan Railways has installed a special security bogie on the Jaffar Express following a series of attacks on the train by Baloch armed groups, officials said on Saturday.
Railway officials said the bogie, delivered to Quetta, has been fitted with “modern security devices” and has been specially designed for personnel responsible for protecting the train.
A spokesperson for Pakistan Railways said the bogie has been allocated exclusively for security duties and will undergo a two-week trial in Quetta before being attached to the train for regular service.
Officials said the measure aims to make the route “safer” amid persistent security threats.
The Jaffar Express, which runs between Quetta, Punjab and Peshawar, has repeatedly come under attack over the past year by Baloch armed groups, who say the train is routinely used to transport reserve and serving members of the Pakistani military.
In March, fighters of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the Jaffar Express and held it hostage for three days. The group claimed more than 200 Pakistani military personnel were killed during the operation.
Since the March hijacking, the train has faced multiple attacks and several service suspensions when entering and leaving Balochistan. Responsibility for most of those attacks was claimed by the Baloch Republican Guards (BRG).
Railway authorities said repeated attacks had caused prolonged disruptions to the Jaffar Express service, adding that the installation of modern security equipment was an attempt to restore regular operations and reduce vulnerability to further attacks.