Pakistan Suspends Rail Services Across Balochistan

Pakistan Railways halts all passenger and cargo operations following intelligence warnings of a high-impact militant attack planned for December 25.

December 25, 2025: In a swift move to avert a potential national tragedy, Pakistan Railways suspended all train operations across the restive province of Balochistan today, Thursday, December 25, 2025. The decision follows specific and credible intelligence warnings regarding a planned large-scale attack by Baloch separatist groups on the birth anniversary of Pakistan’s founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Intelligence Brief: Targeting National Symbols

Security agencies reportedly intercepted communications indicating that militant factions, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), aimed to carry out symbolic attacks to “embarrass the state” on a high-profile national holiday.

• The Threat: Sources suggest the target was railway infrastructure in the remote, mountainous Bolan Pass—the same region where a traumatic train hijacking occurred in March 2025.
• Symbolism: Attacks on December 25 (Quaid-e-Azam Day) are often sought by insurgents to signal a challenge to the state’s authority on a day of national unity.

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Preceding Attacks: A Week of Sabotage

The total suspension today comes after a string of IED attacks on railway tracks earlier this week:

• December 23 (Tuesday): A powerful IED exploded on the main track near Dera Murad Jamali, damaging four feet of rail. A second 10 kg bomb was discovered and defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) just meters away.
• December 19 (Friday): Twin bombings in the Mushkaf and Dasht areas targeted the tracks of the Quetta-bound Jaffer Express and Bolan Mail. While the tracks were damaged, both trains narrowly escaped the blast sites.

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Operations Halted: Disruption at Quetta Station

The sudden cancellation has left hundreds of travelers stranded at the Quetta Railway Station during the peak winter travel season.

Train Service	Status (Dec 25)	Tentative Resumption
Jaffer Express (Quetta to Peshawar)	Suspended	Dec 26 (Subject to clearance)
Bolan Mail (Quetta to Karachi)	Suspended	Dec 26 (Subject to clearance)
Chaman Passenger (Border link)	Suspended	Dec 26 (Subject to clearance)
Cargo/Freight Services	Halted	Ongoing security review

Official Quote: “The safety of our passengers is paramount. We are coordinating with the Frontier Corps (FC) and railway police to conduct a full scan of the Quetta-Sibi-Mach sector before resuming services,” a senior Pakistan Railways official stated.

The Wider Context: A Year of Railway Terror

Balochistan’s railway network has become a primary battlefield in 2025.

The March Hijacking: On March 11, BLA militants hijacked the Jaffer Express for over 30 hours, leading to the deaths of 31 people (including 18 off-duty soldiers).

Quetta Blast: A suicide bombing at the Quetta Railway Station in late 2024 remains fresh in the public memory, having claimed 26 lives.

Economic Impact: The frequent shutdowns are crippling the province’s supply chain, as rail is the primary mode for transporting fuel and essential winter supplies to the highland regions.