Pakistan: Attack on Jaffar Express near Machh

At least four people were killed and over 10 wounded during an attack on the Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar Express on Friday, unconfirmed reports said. The train, which began its journey from Quetta, was attacked with rockets near Machh Town in Balochistan’s Bolan district. Following the rocket attack, the assailants began shooting at the train. Security forces retaliated and were engaged in an exchange of fire with the attackers which was still ongoing. Additional contingents of the Frontier Corps (FC) and Levies had reached the area and were assisting security forces in retaliating the attack. Friday’s attack comes just over a week after gunmen disguised as security personnel killed 11 civilians and two security men after kidnapping them from Punjab-bound passenger coaches also near Machh Town. The coaches were coming from Quetta and the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) had claimed responsibility for the killings. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, is plagued by extremist militancy and sectarian violence, as well as a regional insurgency waged by separatist militants.