A suicide bomber attacked a passenger train in Pakistan, resulting in at least 23 fatalities and approximately 70 injuries on Sunday morning, according to reports from The Associated Press.
The incident occurred in Quetta, the capital of the southwestern province of Balochistan. The explosion took place when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a railway line as a passenger train was passing, leading to two train cars overturning and catching fire. This region has a history of a persistent insurgency involving separatist and militant groups.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist group seeking independence for the province from Pakistan, reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. They stated that their target was a train carrying security personnel.
The Times of India reported that the train carried army personnel and their families traveling from Quetta to Peshawar for Eid holidays. The BLA specifically mentioned targeting security personnel. This area is recognized for having a significant security presence.
The explosion generated powerful shockwaves throughout the locality. Witnesses and circulated images on social media showcased the overturned train cars on fire, releasing thick black smoke into the sky. The explosion also severely damaged nearby buildings and affected more than a dozen parked vehicles, as elaborated by The AP.
Several victims were rushed to local hospitals. Among the wounded, about 20 individuals were reported to be in critical condition according to doctors cited by The AP.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, labeling it a “cowardly act of terrorism,” and assured that the perpetrators would face justice. He stated, “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.” Sharif expressed condolences to the victims’ families and wished for the swift recovery of the injured.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti alleged that the group received support from Indian-sponsored proxies with the aim of destabilizing Pakistan. India has consistently denied these allegations amid the long-standing territorial disputes between the two nations, especially in Kashmir.
“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.” He stressed that individuals responsible for shedding innocent blood would receive no leniency, asserting that, “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 staged large-scale suicide operations targeting Pakistani security forces and infrastructure in Quetta, as reported by The Times of India. In 2024, a suicide bombing at a train station in Balochistan resulted in the deaths of at least 26 people, including soldiers.