Quetta Train Blast: At Least 24 Killed and Dozens Injured in Deadly Suicide Attack in Balochistan
At least 24 people were killed and more than 70 injured after a powerful suicide bomb attack targeted a train carrying security personnel and their families in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, on Sunday.
According to officials, the attacker rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into a train near a railway track as it was traveling through a residential area of Quetta. The massive explosion caused severe damage to the train, derailing the engine and several coaches. Some train carriages overturned and caught fire, while nearby buildings and vehicles were also heavily damaged.
Rescue teams, security personnel, and local residents rushed to the scene to help victims trapped inside the damaged train coaches. Emergency services transported the injured to hospitals across Quetta, where a medical emergency was declared. Hospital officials said many of the injured were in critical condition.
The train was reportedly carrying security personnel along with their family members. Authorities said women, children, and civilians were among those affected by the attack. Witnesses described scenes of chaos, with thick black smoke rising from the wreckage and debris scattered across the area.
The separatist militant group, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, the group said it targeted the train because it was carrying security personnel. The claim could not be independently verified.
The attack is one of the deadliest incidents in Balochistan in recent months and highlights ongoing security challenges in the province. Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has long experienced unrest and insurgent violence. Militant groups have frequently targeted security forces, government installations, infrastructure projects, and public transportation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the bombing, calling it a cowardly act of terrorism. He expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and said Pakistan would continue its fight against terrorism. President Asif Ali Zardari and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also condemned the attack and vowed that those responsible would be brought to justice.
The bombing comes amid a rise in militant attacks across Balochistan. In March 2025, militants linked to the BLA hijacked the Jaffar Express train, taking hundreds of passengers hostage before security forces launched an operation to end the crisis.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the Quetta train blast, while security has been tightened across the region. As rescue operations continue, the nation mourns the loss of lives in one of the most devastating attacks on Pakistan’s railway system in recent years.
