Viral video of Nov 16 attack on Jaffar Express

Rating Justification

The iVerify Pakistan team reviewed this content and determined that it is false.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a reverse image search and keyword analysis to corroborate the visuals.

Multiple Indian users and propaganda accounts, including pro-Afghan accounts, shared a video of a derailed train on social media platform X on November 16, 2025, claiming that it was of the Jaffar Express ambushed by Baloch militants with 26 Pakistan Army soldiers subsequently killed. However, the video is old and the train had managed to escape the attack on Nov 16.

Militant strikes on the Jaffar Express have become routine, with repeated bombings and derailments targeting the Quetta–Peshawar line over the past year. The train has faced hijackings, remote-controlled blasts and multiple attacks on tracks in Balochistan and Sindh, disrupting services repeatedly.

HOW IT STARTED

On Nov 16, an Indian propaganda account shared a video of a derailed train on X.

The caption of the post said: “Breaking: Baloch fighters ambushed the Jaffar Express in Rabi, Naseerabad, occupied Balochistan. The train carrying Pakistani troops to the Indian border was hit amid fears of Delhi Blast retaliation. 26 soldiers killed, several injured. Pakistan Army choppers evacuating casualties.”

The post gained 134,000 views.

Another Indian propaganda account shared the same video with a similar caption on X, gaining 41,000 views.

Indian media outlet India Today also shared the same video with a similar claim in its news article dated Nov 17, 2025, and titled “Jaffar Express targeted again in Balochistan as bomb detonates on railway track”.

The video and claims were quickly picked up by other Indian and pro-Afghan accounts as well, as seen here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, collectively gaining over 38,000 views.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its high virality and keen public interest in the matter.

A keyword search conducted to corroborate whether any such incident took place yielded news reports, dated Nov 16 and Nov 17, by several mainstream local and international media outlets, such as Dawn, Pakistan Today, ANI News and The Economic Times.

According to the media reports, unidentified attackers had planted an explosive device on the railway track in the Shaheed Abdul Aziz Bullo area to target the Peshawar-bound train that was travelling from Quetta and later detonated it. However, the train passed the area safely without incident and no loss of life was reported.

This contrasted with the viral image that showed derailed bogies and a significant police presence.

A reverse image search of keyframes from the clips yielded a news article dated Sep 23, 2025, by Dawn titled: “At least 4 injured as blast derails 6 Jaffar Express bogies in Balochistan’s Mastung district”.

According to the report, the blast blew up a section of track near Spezand in Mastung, derailing six bogies of the Jaffar Express and injuring at least four people.

Other news outlets such as Geo News, The News International and Express News also used the same visual to cover the Sep 23 incident, proving that the viral video was falsely attributed to yesterday’s attack.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: FALSE

The claim that a viral video shows the Jaffar Express derailed after an ambush attack by Baloch militants on Nov 16, killing at least 26 soldiers, is false.

The video is old and no casualties were reported in the Nov 16 attack.

Evidence and References

Nov 16, 2025, Dawn.com news article:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1955463

Nov 17, 2025, Pakistan Today news article:
https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2025/11/17/jaffar-express-narrowly-escapes-another-bomb-and-rocket-attack/

Nov 17, 2025, Economic Times news article:
https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/world-news/pakistan-jaffar-express-targeted-again-escapes-without-damage/amp_articleshow/125379889.cms

Nov 16, 2025, ANI News news article:
https://www.aninews.in/news/world/asia/jaffar-express-escapes-bomb-attack-in-balochistans-nasirabad-officials20251116233645/?amp=1

Sep 23, 2025, Dawn.com news article:
https://www.dawn.com/news/1944144

Sep 23, 2025, Geo News news article:
https://www.geo.tv/latest/625163-jaffar-express-derails-in-mastungs-dasht-area-after-explosion-on-track

Sep 24, 2025, The News International news article:
https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1345917-jaffar-express-derails-in-mastung-s-dasht-area-after-explosion-on-track

Sep 23, 2025, Express news article:
https://www.express.pk/story/2779818/blast-on-railway-track-jaffer-express-accident-2779818