A bomb explosion at Quetta Train Station in Pakistan’s Balochistan province struck just as a popular morning train was preparing to depart, killing at least 24 people and injuring nearly 50. The separatist militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has taken responsibility for the attack, which comes amid a rise in independence demands and local resource control disputes in the region.
According to police officials, the blast was caused by a suicide bomber carrying approximately 6-8 kilograms of explosives. Both civilians and military personnel were among the dead and wounded. Videos circulating on social media show the horrifying moment of the explosion and the subsequent destruction, with debris scattered across the platform.
Abdul Jabbar, who was at the station purchasing a ticket, described the chaos, saying, “I can’t describe the horror I faced today; it was like Judgment Day had arrived.” Muhammad Sohail, who arrived soon after, recalled, “Everything was destroyed, and people lay on the ground screaming for help.”
Balochistan’s Chief Minister condemned the attack, calling the perpetrators “worse than animals,” and vowed to bring them to justice. Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, denounced the bombing, describing those responsible as “enemies of humanity.”
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province and rich in natural resources, is the least developed region in the country. Bordering Iran and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, Balochistan’s strategic location along the Arabian Sea adds to its significance in Pakistan’s security landscape.