BLA Strikes Jaffar Express Again: Indian-Backed Terrorists Behind Balochistan Derailment

Once again, Indian backed BLA terrorists struck Pakistan’s railways on September 23, 2025, when the Jaffar Express was derailed in Mastung, turning a routine journey into a scene of chaos and fear. A devastating bomb blast derailed six coaches of the passenger train carrying more than 270 people from Peshawar to Quetta. At least 13 passengers, including women and children, were injured, and one carriage overturned completely. Rescue teams worked tirelessly through the night to save lives and restore the line. This terror attack occurred just hours after another explosion targeted security personnel clearing the railway tracks, showing clear coordination amongst the terrorists. While no group initially claimed responsibility, the pattern of the attack closely mirrors previous operations of the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). The Jaffar Express bombing is the latest example of Indian-backed terrorism in Balochistan, carried out by the BLA to destabilize Pakistan, disrupt development projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and spread fear among citizens.

Balochistan has suffered heavily at the hands of such foreign-sponsored groups. The Jaffar Express itself has become a repeated target. In March 2025, the BLA hijacked the same train in a brazen act of terror, taking hundreds of passengers’ hostage. That crisis ended with the successful Operation Green Bolan by Pakistan’s security forces, but it exposed the group’s reckless tactics. Since then, militants have expanded attacks on buses, schools, and infrastructure. In May 2025, a school bus bombing in Khuzdar killed innocent children, a tragedy that shocked the nation. These incidents are not isolated; they are part of a wider campaign to terrorize ordinary Pakistanis and derail the development of Balochistan, a province central to Pakistan’s economic future.

The BLA claims to fight for Baloch rights, yet its actions betray this claim. Its real victims are civilians, families traveling by train, workers heading to jobs, and children going to school. Intelligence reports link the group directly to sabotage of railway lines, targeted killings, and bombings against Chinese engineers and CPEC projects. Even after the derailment, militant-linked online accounts celebrated the attack, showing how little regard these so-called “freedom fighters” have for human life. Many of their leaders operate from safe havens outside Pakistan, relying on external funding and direction. The assasination of BLA commander Rahman Gul in Afghanistan exposed these cross-border networks, but the group continues to receive support. Rehman Gul was a senior commander of the Majeed Brigade of BLA and was considered to be the mastermind behind the Jaafer Express train hijacking in Balochistan earlier this year.

The hand of India in this violence is undeniable. Pakistan has repeatedly presented evidence of Indian intelligence agencies funding, training, and arming BLA terrorists. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit earlier this month, openly stated that Pakistan holds concrete proof of Indian involvement in attacks such as the Jaffar Express bombing. He described it as “state-sponsored terrorism,” and his warning was echoed by SCO members who condemned external support for terrorism in Balochistan. India’s record is clear: while it lectures the world about fighting terrorism, it secretly fuels violence in Pakistan to sabotage CPEC and strain Pakistan-China relations.

India’s duplicity is further exposed by its narrative games. Indian media outlets and officials often portray these terrorists as “insurgents,” attempting to mask their crimes under political labels. By targeting transport systems and development projects, India and its proxies hope to scare away investment and present Pakistan as unstable. Yet the reality is very different: despite such attacks, Pakistan continues to push forward with infrastructure, energy, and connectivity projects. The people of Balochistan, who benefit directly from roads, jobs, and schools under CPEC, reject the BLA’s violence and recognize it as a betrayal of their interests.

Pakistan must respond on multiple fronts. Militarily, security forces must tighten protection of railway lines, border routes, and vital installations. Diplomatically, Pakistan should increase pressure at the United Nations and international forums to expose Indian involvement and push for sanctions against BLA leadership. Sharing evidence of Indian funding and safe havens is critical for building global consensus. At home, development and dialogue must go hand in hand with counterterrorism. By improving education, healthcare, and employment opportunities, the state can further isolate militants and strengthen the resolve of ordinary Baloch citizens against terrorism.

The derailment of the Jaffar Express is not just an attack on a train; it is an attack on Pakistan’s unity, development, and sovereignty. Yet history shows that such attempts will fail. Pakistan’s armed forces, intelligence agencies, and resilient people have faced far greater challenges and emerged stronger. The tracks will be repaired, the train will run again, and life will continue, but the world must no longer ignore India’s proxy war in Balochistan. State-sponsored terrorism cannot coexist with peace, and those who back it must be held accountable. The BLA’s bombs can cause temporary pain, but they cannot break the will of Pakistan. India’s designs to destabilize the region will be defeated just as previous conspiracies have been. Pakistan’s future lies in progress, stability, and prosperity, and no amount of foreign-backed terrorism will change that path.