ISLAMABAD: The mastermind of the Jaffar Express attack has been mysteriously killed in Afghanistan, security sources confirmed.
At least 25 people, including 21 hostages, were killed when banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militants attacked the Jaffar Express on March 11, 2025. The passenger train, carrying about 380 people from Quetta to Peshawar, was hijacked in Bolan district.
According to the sources, Gul Rehman, a terrorist backed by “Fitna-al-Hindustan”, was killed in Helmand on September 17. He served as a trainer and operational commander of the banned Majeed Brigade.
Security officials said Gul Rehman was involved in multiple attacks targeting security forces, Chinese nationals, civilians and CPEC projects.
They added that *Fitna al-Hindustan* was linked to the Jaffar Express bombing, the assault on the Chinese consulate, terrorist activity in Gwadar, the Khuzdar school bus attack and the Quetta railway station bombing.
The United States has already declared the Majeed Brigade a global terrorist organisation, while Pakistan and China have called for its inclusion on the UN terror list.
On March 13, Pakistan blamed India of orchestrating the Jaffar Express attack in Bolan.
During a weekly briefing, the Foreign Office spokesperson said the assault was planned by terrorists operating from outside the country and urged the Afghan government to take action against the perpetrators.
He added that Pakistan has long been a victim of terrorism, often targeted by elements based abroad, and cited evidence from traced calls linking the train attack to contacts in Afghanistan.
He said that Pakistan has previously shared complete details of similar incidents with Afghanistan, and this process continued.
The BLA had also released a video showing an explosion on the track followed by dozens of militants emerging from mountain hideouts to attack the train.
Attacks by separatist groups have surged in recent years, mostly targeting security forces and ethnic communities from outside the province.