In a tragic incident on Sunday morning, a suicide bombing claimed the lives of at least 23 individuals and left approximately 70 others injured when a passenger train in Pakistan was attacked, reports the Associated Press (AP).
The explosion occurred in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan province in the southwest. The attack involved a vehicle filled with explosives detonating near the railway as the train passed, resulting in two carriages derailing and igniting in flames.
Balochistan has a long history of unrest, characterized by ongoing low-level insurgencies led by separatist and militant factions.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a group advocating for the region’s independence from Pakistan, claimed responsibility for the bombing. They stated that their target was a train transporting security forces.
According to The Times of India, the train was carrying military personnel and their families traveling from Quetta to Peshawar for Eid celebrations. The AP highlighted that the BLA specifically aimed at a train with security personnel. This area is notably marked by a robust security presence.
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.
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.”
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.”
“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.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.