A bomb blast at a railway station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, killed 24 people and injured over 40 others on Saturday morning. The explosion occurred as a Peshawar-bound train was preparing to depart, leaving the station in disarray and many passengers injured.
Balochistan’s Inspector General of Police, Mouzzam Jah Ansari, confirmed the death toll, adding that many of the injured remain in critical condition. “The target was army personnel from the Infantry School,” Ansari said, noting that investigations into the bombing are ongoing.
Medical teams rushed the injured to the nearby civil hospital. Dr. Wasim Baig, a hospital spokesman, said they have received 44 injured people, many of whom require urgent care.
Senior Superintendent of Police Muhammad Baloch reported that initial findings suggest it was a suicide attack. The blast took place at Quetta’s main railway station, a busy area, especially early in the day. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Pakistan has recently seen a rise in attacks from both separatist and Islamist militants. In August, Balochistan province experienced a violent series of assaults by separatist groups, resulting in 73 deaths. The region, which hosts major Chinese investments such as a port and mining projects, has long been troubled by insurgents seeking independence for its resource-rich lands.
As Pakistan confronts mounting security challenges, the government and military continue efforts to address violence in vulnerable regions like Balochistan.
