Bomb Attack on Military Train in Quetta Leaves over 24 Dead
Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan was shaken by a deadly train blast on Sunday that killed at least 24 people and injured more than 50 others, according to senior officials. The attack took place in the provincial capital of Quetta and targeted a train carrying army personnel along with their families as they traveled to celebrate the upcoming Eid holiday, according to Arab News.
Officials said the train was heading from Quetta to Peshawar when an explosive-laden vehicle rammed into one of the carriages near Chaman Pattak, triggering a powerful explosion. Witnesses described scenes of panic and destruction as the blast tore through the train, overturning a carriage and shattering windows in nearby buildings and vehicles.
Images from the scene showed mangled railway coaches lying on their side while rescue workers and residents searched desperately for survivors. Blood-soaked victims were carried away on stretchers as heavily armed security forces secured the area.
The attack occurred in one of Quetta’s most heavily guarded zones, close to key government buildings including the Governor House, Chief Minister’s House, Civil Secretariat and the city’s main sports complex. Investigators believe around 35 kilograms of explosives were used in the improvised bomb.
The banned separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility for the attack. The group identified the bomber as Bilal Shahwani, a member of its Majeed Brigade. According to reports, Pakistan’s military had recently shifted to using a secret shuttle train system after repeated attacks by Baloch fighters. The blast struck before the train could fully reach Quetta Railway Station and before civilian passengers had boarded.
Residents near the blast site recalled terrifying moments after the explosion. “My family and I jumped out of our beds when we heard a loud bang,” said Mohammad Rahim, who lives nearby. Another witness, Abdul Basit, said people began “running for shelter” as screams filled the area.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest yet poorest province, has long faced unrest. Separatist groups accuse the government of exploiting the region’s rich natural gas and mineral resources while leaving local communities in poverty and underdevelopment.
