BLA Claims Responsibility for Deadly Blast Targeting Jaffar Express Shuttle in Balochistan

Quetta, May 2026 : The banned separatist outfit Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) on Sunday claimed responsibility for a deadly blast targeting a shuttle linked to the Jaffar Express in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, according to local media reports.

The attack reportedly took place near Chaman Phatak shortly after the train departed from Quetta Cantonment for Quetta Railway Station. The shuttle, consisting of three bogies attached to the Jaffar Express, was allegedly carrying Pakistani military personnel travelling on the occasion of Eid.

In a statement attributed to BLA spokesperson Jayend Baloch, the organisation claimed that its fidayeen unit, known as the “Majeed Brigade,” carried out the attack. The group alleged that Army personnel travelling on the train were the primary targets.

According to Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, the explosion caused severe damage to the train. Three coaches, including the engine, derailed, while two bogies overturned completely following the blast.

Local media reports stated that at least 27 people were killed and 131 others injured in the incident. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise further as several injured passengers remained in critical condition.

The BLA later issued another statement identifying the alleged attacker as 25-year-old Bilal Shahwani, also known by the alias “Sain.” The group claimed that Shahwani was a commander within the Majeed Brigade’s suicide unit and hailed from the Sariab locality in the Shaal area of Balochistan.

According to the statement, Shahwani joined the Baloch resistance movement in 2020 and had been actively associated with the organisation since then.

The militant group further claimed that the attack demonstrated the operational capabilities of its intelligence wing, referred to as “Zarab,” as well as the combat preparedness of its fighters. The statement alleged that the targeted military personnel were being moved “secretly” from Quetta Cantonment to the Jaffar Express through the shuttle train.

The BLA also claimed that the attack reflected a shift in the strategy of the Baloch insurgency, asserting that the movement had evolved beyond traditional guerrilla tactics into what it described as a more organised military structure.

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, has witnessed a long-running insurgency involving separatist groups demanding greater autonomy and control over regional resources. Militant attacks targeting security forces, railway infrastructure, and government installations have increased in recent years, posing major security challenges in the region.

Pakistani authorities have not yet issued a detailed response to the BLA’s latest claims, while investigations into the explosion are currently underway.