Rail service restored in Balochistan

Published February 9, 2005

QUETTA, Feb 8: The train service between Quetta and the rest of the country was restored after eight hours' disruption on Tuesday morning after the damaged portion of the main track near Damboli was repaired by Pakistan Railways engineers.

However, a fresh rocket attack on Tuesday morning destroyed the microwave communication installations in the Glangoor area of Chagai district, disrupting the communication system in a vast area of three districts.

"Around 7,000 telephones went out of order in three districts of Balochistan," said a spokesman for the PTCL, Quetta.

He told this correspondent that unknown people had fired three rockets at the microwave installations in the early hours. One rocket landed in the microwave station building. It did not explode, but caused damaged to the communication system.

The bomb disposal squad despatched from Quetta later defused the rocket. Meanwhile, railway traffic was once again suspended for at least three hours in the afternoon on Tuesday and all passenger trains coming from Quetta were stopped at the Sibi station after receiving information about more explosions in the same area.

However, the Pakistan Railways staff concerned and law enforcement agencies checked the railway track from Sibi to Bakhtairabad and later allowed the detained trains to continue their journey.

Opinion

Editorial

In chains
Updated 25 May, 2026

In chains

THE question should never be about who is at the receiving end at any given point in time: an assault on an...
Climate shocks
25 May, 2026

Climate shocks

THE latest State Bank report documenting recurring climatic disasters in Pakistan during the period between 2000 and...
Justice deferred
25 May, 2026

Justice deferred

PAKISTAN’S courts are quick to remind the public that justice takes time. Increasingly, however, it is the conduct...
Some progress
Updated 24 May, 2026

Some progress

Pakistan deserves credit for helping preserve diplomatic space, but also must avoid appearing aligned with coercive pressure from any side.
Chinese market
24 May, 2026

Chinese market

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s trip to China presents an opportunity to rebalance Pakistan’s economic...
Harvesting humans
24 May, 2026

Harvesting humans

ORGAN brokers have for too long preyed on desperation to rake it in. The odious trade — among the most harmful...