QUETTA – A devastating blast rocked the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Sunday as a bomb detonated near a railway track just as a passenger train was passing by, injuring over two dozen individuals, according to authorities.
The explosion’s immense force caused two train cars to derail and ignite, releasing thick plumes of black smoke into the sky, as captured in videos circulating on social media.
This attack unfolded in a region typically monitored by security forces, inflicting severe damage on several nearby buildings and destroying more than a dozen vehicles parked along the road, witnesses and online images revealed.
Medical staff at local hospitals reported receiving over 30 injured individuals, with several in critical condition.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a banned militant group seeking independence from Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack through a statement issued to the press. The group stated that the train was targeted because it was transporting security personnel.
Quetta serves as the capital of Balochistan, a province plagued by insurgency. This resource-rich region has been the focal point of a longstanding low-intensity rebellion, with insurgents frequently attacking security forces, government sites, and civilians within the province and across the country.
“We strongly condemn the targeting of innocent civilians and are deeply saddened by the loss of precious human lives. Terrorist elements deserve no leniency,” said Shahid Rind, Balochistan provincial government spokesman.
He said following the explosion, a medical emergency was declared at hospitals in Quetta, and an investigation has been launched.
Although Pakistani authorities say they have quelled the insurgency, violence in Baluchistan has persisted.
At least 26 people, including soldiers, were killed in 2024 when a suicide bomber attacked a train station in Balochistan.
