Balochistan rail services suspended again following brief resumption

WEB DESK: Pakistan Railways has once again suspended all train operations across Balochistan on Friday, February 6, barely 24 hours after a tentative resumption of services following a week of militant violence.

The decision, taken late Thursday night, affected key routes including the Jaffar Express (Quetta–Peshawar) and the Bolan Mail (Quetta–Karachi), after fresh intelligence warnings of potential attacks on railway infrastructure prompted authorities to prioritize passenger safety.

Rail services had first been halted on January 31 after a series of coordinated assaults under what officials termed “Operation Hiroof,” attributed to the BLA, targeting railway tracks, banks, and security outposts, followed by a military counter-offensive, Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-1, which officials say resulted in the deaths of 216 militants, alongside 22 security personnel and 36 civilians.

Although services briefly resumed on February 5 under heavy paramilitary escort, they were halted again the following day due to what authorities described as unavoidable security circumstances. The repeated suspensions have stranded hundreds of passengers at Quetta and Jacobabad stations and severely disrupted the movement of essential goods, including freight on the Quetta–Zahedan line linking Pakistan and Iran.

While highways have largely been declared clear, excluding parts of Noshki, a strict ban on night travel remains in force, and mobile data services continue to be suspended in Quetta and several other districts for the sixth consecutive day.

Officials say limited rail services may tentatively resume on some routes by February 12, subject to security clearance, but the volatility reflects the deepening intersection of security and economic stability.