The death toll from a powerful explosion at a rail station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, climbed to at least 20 on Saturday, with over 40 others injured, some critically, according to officials.
The blast rocked the platform where nearly 100 passengers were waiting to board a train bound for Rawalpindi, a major military city north of Islamabad.
The attack struck Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, a province that has seen years of insurgency and violence.
Senior police officer Mohammad Baloch reported that the blast was especially devastating, as it occurred just as passengers gathered near the platform.
Luggage and debris scattered across the station, and footage from local television stations revealed the roof of the platform ripped apart by the explosion, with a tea stall destroyed in the impact. Some of the severely injured passengers succumbed to their injuries after being rushed to the hospital, according to Ayesha Faiz, a police official in Quetta.
The Balochistan Liberation Army, a separatist group that has led an insurgency against Islamabad for decades, took responsibility for the attack, saying in a statement that a suicide bomber had specifically targeted security personnel stationed at the rail terminal.
The BLA, which has been labeled a terrorist organization by the government, claimed the attacker aimed to strike troops.
A spokesperson for the provincial government, Shahid Rind, confirmed that the bombing appeared to be a suicide attack, though an official investigation was ongoing to verify the BLA’s claim.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a strong condemnation of the bombing, promising, “those who orchestrated the attack will pay a very heavy price for it.”
He affirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating what he called “the menace of terrorism” that has repeatedly shaken the region.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest yet sparsely populated province, rich in oil, gas, and minerals, but home to long-standing tensions.
Ethnic Baloch separatists argue that they are marginalized and exploited by the central government.
The BLA, alongside other separatist and militant groups, has increasingly targeted military personnel, infrastructure, and foreign nationals, particularly Chinese workers associated with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
The multibillion-dollar project involves the construction of extensive infrastructure projects, including ports, highways, and power plants across Pakistan.
The BLA recently claimed responsibility for another suicide attack, targeting a convoy carrying Chinese nationals near Karachi airport, killing two.
In response, the Chinese government has pressed Pakistan to ensure the protection of its citizens working on these strategic projects, many of which are located in Balochistan and other volatile areas across Pakistan.
