A deadly suicide bombing at the Quetta Railway Station in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province has left at least 25 people dead and over 46 others injured. The attack, claimed by the banned militant group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), struck during a busy period at the station, where around 100 people were gathered.
According to Quetta’s city commissioner, Hamza Shafqaat, the explosion occurred at the platform, killing 25 people, including the suicide bomber, reported Geo News. The commissioner confirmed that about 50 others were injured in the blast. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammad Baloch also confirmed that 14 soldiers were among those killed.
In a statement released on social media, the BLA took responsibility for the attack, stating that the bombing was aimed at a Pakistan military unit returning from Quetta after completing a training course. The BLA, a separatist group seeking greater autonomy for Balochistan, has previously carried out similar attacks in the region.
The explosion, which damaged the platform’s roof, was initially suspected to be a suicide bombing. SSP Baloch further confirmed the nature of the attack, and initial footage suggested that the number of victims could rise as the situation developed. Local authorities fear that the death toll may increase as emergency operations continue.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, is home to vast natural resources but remains the least developed part of the country. The region, which shares a volatile border with Iran and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, has been a hotspot for insurgency and violence for years, particularly from separatist groups like the BLA, which accuse the federal government of exploiting the province’s resources without investing in its development.
The chief minister of Balochistan condemned the attack, calling it “deplorable” and labeling the perpetrators as “worse than animals.” He vowed to pursue the attackers and “bring them to their logical end.”
This attack is part of a larger pattern of escalating violence in the region. Balochistan has seen a surge in terror attacks over recent months. A report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) revealed a staggering 90% increase in violence in the third quarter of this year alone, with 722 fatalities recorded across 328 incidents.
In late August, the BLA carried out another bombing that destroyed the Kolapur-Mach railway bridge, prompting Pakistan Railways to suspend services across the country for more than a month. Train services resumed on October 11, between Quetta and Peshawar, but this recent attack shows the ongoing volatility in the region.
Balochistan’s separatist groups, including the BLA, accuse Islamabad of exploiting the province’s mineral wealth and natural resources without addressing its chronic underdevelopment. However, the Pakistani government dismisses these allegations, asserting that foreign powers are behind the unrest, manipulating disgruntled elements to instigate violence.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
Comments