Explosive assault exposes Pakistan’s internal security crisis as Baloch militants target military personnel with devastating force.
At least 24 people were killed and dozens wounded after a powerful blast targeted a train carrying military personnel in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province.
The attack took place near the Chaman Pattak signal in Quetta, where officials said an explosive-laden vehicle struck one of the train carriages, triggering a massive explosion. The force of the blast overturned and set fire to train coaches, sending thick black smoke into the sky and damaging nearby buildings and parked vehicles.
Army servicemen were among those killed, while more than 50 people were wounded. Some reports placed the number of injured above 70, as rescue teams rushed victims to hospitals and authorities worked to determine whether anyone remained trapped.
The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had targeted security personnel. The separatist group has repeatedly attacked Pakistani forces, infrastructure and state-linked targets in the restive province.
The bombing struck a high-security area where security forces are often stationed, deepening concerns over militant reach inside Quetta. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack as terrorism and expressed condolences to the victims’ families.
The assault marks another deadly escalation in Balochistan’s long-running insurgency, where separatist militants accuse the Pakistani state of exploiting the province’s resources while Islamabad continues counterinsurgency operations.
