SouthernWorldwide.com – A devastating suicide bombing targeted a passenger train in Pakistan on Sunday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 23 people and injuring approximately 70 others.
The attack occurred in Quetta, the capital of the southwestern Balochistan province. An explosives-laden vehicle detonated near the railway tracks as a passenger train passed by. The force of the explosion caused two train cars to overturn and catch fire.
This region has a history of persistent, albeit low-level, insurgencies. These involve various separatist and militant groups operating within the province.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a militant separatist organization advocating for Balochistan’s secession from Pakistan, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack. They stated their target was a train carrying security personnel.
Reports from The Times of India indicate that the train was carrying army personnel and their families. They were traveling from Quetta to Peshawar for the Eid holidays. The Associated Press (AP) reported more generally that the BLA claimed to have targeted a train with security personnel on board.
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The area where the attack took place is known for its significant security presence.
The blast reportedly sent shockwaves throughout the vicinity, with eyewitness accounts and social media images depicting the severe impact. The force of the explosion led to two train cars overturning and igniting, producing thick plumes of black smoke.
Adjacent buildings also sustained considerable damage. Furthermore, over a dozen parked vehicles in the vicinity were affected by the blast.
Numerous injured individuals were reportedly transported to local hospitals. According to doctors cited by AP, approximately 20 of the wounded were in critical condition.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vehemently condemned the attack, denouncing it as a “cowardly act of terrorism.” He assured that those responsible would be apprehended and 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,” stated the Prime Minister.
“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 BLA is supported by Indian-sponsored proxies. He stated their aim is to destabilize Pakistan. India and Pakistan have a long-standing territorial dispute over Kashmir, though India has consistently denied involvement in such activities.
“The terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan are proving their savagery by targeting innocent civilians, women, and children,” Bugti remarked, characterizing 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 been increasingly conducting large-scale suicide operations. These operations have primarily targeted Pakistani security forces and infrastructure in Quetta, according to The Times of India.
In a separate incident earlier in 2024, at least 26 individuals, including soldiers, were killed in a suicide bombing at a train station in Balochistan.
