Train services on both up and down tracks in all affected cities were suspended immediately after the explosions. –Photo by APP (file photo)

KARACHI: Suspected militants blew up railway tracks at four sites in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh early Friday, disrupting train services, officials said.

Two people were injured when two small bombs damaged the tracks near the Baloch Colony bridge area in Karachi, DawnNews reported. However, no casualties were reported in the explosions in Hyderabad, Nawabshah and Mehrabpur districts.

The explosions appeared to be coordinated attacks, police and railway officials said.

“Two low-intensity bombs planted on both the up and down railway tracks went off outside Karachi early morning, causing damage to the tracks,” senior police officer Chaudhry Asad told AFP.

Train services were suspended and repair work had begun, he said.

About 30 minutes later two more blasts damaged railway tracks near near the Hussainabad area in Hyderabad, Pakistan Railways official Aftab Memon said.

Two additional blasts on tracks were reported from Nawabshah, between the Nawaz Dahri and Sarhari Railway stations and another two in the Sindh area of Mehrabpur, he said.

“All these blasts were similar in nature, causing damage to the track,” he said.

Home ministry official Sharfuddin Memon blamed militants for the attacks, AFP reports.

“These attacks are linked to the situation in northwest Pakistan and the aim was to target communications networks and create panic among the people,” he said.

Pakistan suffers near-daily attacks blamed on Taliban and al Qaeda-linked militants, who are most active in the lawless tribal belt of northwest Pakistan on the border with Afghanistan.

A teenage suicide bomber killed up to 31 Pakistani army recruits at a parade ground on Thursday, an attack the Taliban said was revenge for US drone strikes and local military offensives.

However, attacks by the extremists on infrastructure such as railways are relatively rare.

Opinion

Editorial

Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

WITH terrorist attacks surging, resulting in high casualties amongst both civilians and security personnel, it is...
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

FORMER first lady Bushra Bibi’s video address to PTI followers has triggered a firestorm. Her assertion implying...
Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...