QUETTA, Pakistan, Nov 9 (Reuters) – A deadly bomb blast at a railway station in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan, has left at least 24 people dead and over 40 others injured.
The explosion occurred on Saturday morning when the station usually has commuters. Police and officials confirmed the high toll, with many of the injured in critical condition.
Attack targeted army personnel from the Infantry School, according to Balochistan’s police chief, Mouzzam Jah Ansari. Of the 24 victims, 16 were confirmed to be soldiers. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group fighting for Balochistan’s independence, claimed responsibility for the bombing in a statement to Reuters.
The BLA, one of several militant groups in the region, has long accused the Pakistani government of exploiting the province’s vast mineral resources without benefiting its local population. Balochistan, with its strategic location bordering Afghanistan and Iran, has been a focal point of insurgency and violence in recent years.
Hospital officials reported that 44 people were brought to the civil hospital, many with severe injuries.
Police investigations suggest the explosion was a suicide bomb. The blast occurred as the Peshawar-bound express train prepared to depart, according to the senior superintendent of police operations, Muhammad Baloch.
This attack adds to the escalating violence in the region. In August, a series of militant attacks across Balochistan resulted in 73 deaths, targeting police stations, railway lines, and highways. These attacks marked one of the most intense waves of insurgency in recent years, coinciding with significant development projects in the province, including China-backed infrastructure initiatives.
