At least four people were killed and at least 12 others injured as an improvised explosives device (IED) was detonated near a stretch of railway track in the Dasht area of Balochistan’s Mastung district on Sunday.
The explosion took place as the Quetta-Rawalpindi Jaffar Express, a passenger train, was passing.
Rescue sources say four passengers are dead, while at least 10 others are injured. The injured have been taken to Civil Hospital Quetta and Bolan Medical Complex Hospital for treatment. An emergency has been declared in Civil Hospital Quetta. Three of the injured persons were said to be in critical condition.
Police say the blast has damaged a small portion of the railway track and a bogey of the train. They added that the Jaffar Express was stopped immediately after the attack.
A heavy contingent of Frontier Corps and Levies personnel reached the blast site and cordoned off the area as an investigation into the incident was initiated.
The Jaffar Express has been targeted by similar IED attacks in the past.
Militants have targeted vital national installations and security forces in the province for over a decade. Mastung is considered one of the most sensitive and troubled districts of Balochistan.
Meanwhile four Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists have been arrested in a joint operation by Frontier Corps (FC) and intelligence agencies in Zhob and Pishin areas of Balochistan.
According to details, 2 terrorists were arrested from Gawaal Ismail Zai area of Zhob district in Balochistan by FC and intelligence agencies while 2 other TTP terrorists were arrested from Pishin in another operation.
Weapons were found in large numbers with the arrested terrorists. The terrorists have been shifted to unknown area for further investigation.
