Tragedy struck in Pakistan as a devastating attack claimed the lives of at least 23 individuals and left approximately 70 others injured on Sunday morning. The attack, reported by the Associated Press, occurred when a suicide bomber targeted a passenger train, unleashing chaos and destruction.
The incident unfolded in Quetta, the bustling capital of the southwestern Balochistan province. An explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a railway line just as a passenger train was passing by. The powerful blast caused two train cars to overturn and become engulfed in flames. Balochistan has long been a flashpoint for tension, plagued by insurgencies involving separatist and militant factions.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, has reportedly taken responsibility for the attack. They claimed their target was a train carrying security personnel. This event underscores the ongoing struggle for secession by the BLA, which has been a persistent issue in the region.
According to The Times of India, the train was transporting army personnel and their families from Quetta to Peshawar in anticipation of the Eid holidays. While the AP reported that the BLA’s intent was to strike a train laden with security personnel, the area is notably under a heavy security presence, adding layers of complexity to the situation.
In another alarming incident, a suicide car bomber attacked a school bus elsewhere in Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of at least five people. These attacks highlight the volatility and ongoing security challenges faced by the country.
Bystanders inspect an overturned train coach engulfed in smoke after a reported terrorist bombing derailed multiple cars in Quetta, Pakistan, on May 24, 2026. (Arshad Butt/AP Photo)
The blast reportedly sent shockwaves through the area.
According to witness accounts and images circulating on social media, the force of the explosion caused two train cars to overturn and burst into flames, sending thick black smoke into the sky, The AP said. Nearby buildings were also heavily damaged, and more than a dozen parked vehicles were impacted, the outlet added.
Several victims were reportedly transported to local hospitals. Among the wounded, about 20 were reported to be in critical condition, according to doctors cited by The AP.
PHOTOS CAPTURE DEVASTATION AFTER CHILE TRUCK EXPLOSION KILLS AT LEAST 4, DAMAGES AT LEAST 50 VEHICLES
A volunteer assists a survivor scaling the side of a severely damaged, overturned train car after a reported militant attack struck a rail line in Quetta, Pakistan, on May 24, 2026. (Arshad Butt/AP Photo)
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act of terrorism” and saying that those responsible would be brought to justice.
“I strongly condemn the heinous bomb explosion near Chaman Phatak, Quetta, which has resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives and left many others injured. Such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan. We remain steadfast in our determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said.
“I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the swift recovery of the injured. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the people of Balochistan in this hour of grief.”
INDIA VOWS TO HUNT TERRORISTS ‘TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH’ AS TENSIONS WITH PAKISTAN RISE AFTER KASHMIR ATTACK
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti alleged that the group is supported by Indian-sponsored proxies aimed at destabilizing Pakistan. The two countries have long been locked in a bitter dispute over territorial claims in Kashmir, though India has consistently denied such accusations.
“The terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan are proving their savagery by targeting innocent civilians, women, and children,” Bugti said, describing the group as “evil originating from India.”
Bystanders attend to victims on a railway track following reports of a deadly suicide vehicle bombing targeting a passenger train in Quetta, Pakistan, on May 24, 2026. (Arshad Butt/AP Photo)
“Those who shed the blood of innocent people deserve no leniency. Let the enemy hear this: there will be no safe haven left for terrorists in Balochistan. We will hunt down the terrorists, their facilitators, and their masterminds one by one and bring them to justice, and this war will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated.”
The BLA has increasingly carried out large-scale suicide operations targeting Pakistani security forces and infrastructure in Quetta, according to The Times of India.
In 2024, at least 26 people, including soldiers, were killed in a suicide bombing at a train station in Balochistan.