On Saturday, a suicide bomber attacked a train station in southwestern Pakistan, killing at least 26 people and injuring about 62 others. The victims included soldiers and railway staff, with some of the wounded in critical condition. The bombing took place at a busy station in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, where around 100 passengers were waiting to board a train to Rawalpindi.
The bomber, disguised as a passenger, detonated the explosives among the crowd, causing extensive damage to the platform and surrounding areas. The wreckage included a destroyed tea stall and scattered luggage, with most victims rushed to nearby hospitals.
Authorities have faced questions about the security of the station, but senior officials suggested that preventing such attacks remains a challenge. Shahid Nawaz, the head of security at Quetta’s train station, denied any security breach, explaining that the attacker entered the station disguised among passengers.
While the station had a walk-through gate to detect explosives, there were other unsecured entry points, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the security measures. Despite these vulnerabilities, local police and military personnel acted quickly to assist the injured and contain the situation.
The attack was claimed by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group fighting for independence in the ethnically Baloch region. The BLA stated that the target was the Pakistani military personnel present at the station, as part of their ongoing insurgency against the government.
Suicide Bombing at Pakistan Train Station Kills 26, Injures Dozens in Balochistan Separatist Attack
The group has a history of targeting security forces, as well as foreigners working in Balochistan, particularly Chinese nationals involved in infrastructure projects under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The BLA has called for the withdrawal of Chinese workers from the region, citing opposition to the projects that they claim exploit local resources.
In the wake of the attack, local authorities described separatist violence as a frequent occurrence, often in retaliation for the arrests of Baloch militants. Senior police officer Muhammad Baloch emphasized the need for resilience in the face of these challenges, as rescue efforts continued.
As the injured were transported to medical facilities, some succumbed to their wounds, further increasing the death toll. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing, vowing that those responsible would face harsh punishment, while the international community, including Afghanistan and Russia, expressed their condolences.
This bombing followed a recent string of attacks in Balochistan, including a bomb targeting police officers protecting polio workers, which killed nine people. The region has been a hotbed of separatist activity, with the BLA leading a longstanding insurgency.
Balochistan, rich in oil and mineral resources but sparsely populated, has seen tensions between the central government and the ethnic Baloch people, who feel marginalized and exploited. The BLA has been vocal in its opposition to Chinese infrastructure projects in the region, and the recent attack underscores the ongoing instability in an area plagued by both ethnic and militant violence.
