Massive blast rocked Quetta Railway Station in the Balochistan province of southwestern Pakistan on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 24 individuals, according to local officials. Approximately 60 additional victims of the explosion sustained injuries in the incident, with several in critical condition.
The explosion took place near a ticket booth on the platform just as two trains were about to arrive, including the Jaffar Express en route to Peshawar, according to railway officials. At the time of the blast, a considerable number of passengers were present on the platform, and local authorities in Quetta anticipate that the death toll may increase.
Online footage revealed a platform strewn with debris and luggage, including items that seem to be military backpacks.
Pakistani officials have declared an emergency, dispatched the rescue teams to the blast site, where they have commenced operations. Several wounded victims have been transported to Quetta’s Civil Hospital and local medical facility.
Security personnel have secured the site. Quetta’s Senior Superintendent of Police Operations, Mohammad Baloch, stated that the authorities are examining the claim made by the BLA. According to him, the incident appeared to resemble a suicide blast; however, it remains premature to draw definitive conclusions. He also mentioned that a bomb disposal unit has reached the location and is actively engaged in assessing the nature of the explosion.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has already issued a statement asserting its responsibility for the deadly explosion. In a statement shared on social media, the organization indicated that a suicide bomber aimed at a unit of the Pakistan Army, which they alleged was traveling on the Jaffar Express train to Peshawar after finishing a course at an infantry school.
Pakistan has banned BLA in 2009 in accordance with the nation’s anti-terrorism legislation.
Balochistan, the largest yet least populated province of Pakistan, is home to significant mining operations and the ethnic Baloch minority. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has persistently pursued independence for the province from the central authority in Islamabad.
The insurgents regularly target police and military personnel in the region, as well as foreign nationals, particularly Chinese individuals involved in infrastructure projects under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. In addition to the separatists, Islamist militants are also known to be active in the area.