QUETTA: The Quetta-bound Jaffar Express escaped a bomb blast that occurred shortly before its arrival at Jacobabad on the track linking Balochistan with Sindh, officials said on Tuesday.

The train, which was travelling to Quetta from Peshawar, was stopped at Jacobabad after the blast damaged the railway track.

According to officials, unidentified miscreants had planted an explosive device on the railway track near Somra Branch, close to Abdullah Lashari village, within the jurisdiction of Saddar police station in Jacobabad, apparently targeting the Jaffar Express.

However, the explosive device detonated before the arrival of the Jaffar Express, police officials said.

“The onward journey of the Jaffar Express towards Quetta was suspended and the train was stopped at Jacobabad Railway Station as a precautionary measure,” officials said.

Police reached the site and launched an investigation into the incident.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2026