At least 23 killed in train blast in Pakistan's Quetta

At least 23 people have been killed and more than 70 injured after a suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden vehicle near a railway track in Quetta, in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province. The blast happened as a passenger train passed through the area, and the force of the explosion caused two carriages to overturn and catch fire. Officials said the attack also damaged nearby buildings and vehicles parked along the road, while thick smoke rose from the scene.

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The latest figures are higher than earlier reports that put the death toll at 20. Local doctors said 20 of the wounded were in critical condition, and hospitals in Quetta declared a medical emergency after the explosion. Three security officials said bodies were taken to hospitals following the attack, and witnesses described extensive damage in an area where security forces are usually stationed.

The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility and said it had targeted a train carrying security personnel. Shahid Rind, the Balochistan provincial government spokesman, condemned the attack and said an investigation had been launched. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned what he called a cowardly act of terrorism and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also condemned the blast, according to the information provided. The attack is significant because it again places rail security and military transport under scrutiny in Balochistan, a province that has long faced insurgent violence. The region is Pakistan's largest by area and borders Iran and Afghanistan, giving unrest there wider security implications.

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It is also rich in oil and minerals, and separatist groups have long accused the federal government of exploiting local resources without sufficient benefit to residents. Quetta, the provincial capital, has repeatedly been affected by militant attacks linked to the long-running insurgency in Balochistan. The Baloch Liberation Army has frequently targeted security forces, government installations and civilians in the province and elsewhere in Pakistan.

The group has also been linked in the supplied material to previous attacks on trains, including repeated incidents involving the Jaffar Express in recent years. What remains unclear is the final death toll, the full extent of the injuries, and the exact sequence of events that led to the blast. It is also not yet clear whether the train was carrying security personnel, civilians, or both, beyond the claim made by the Baloch Liberation Army.

Investigators are expected to examine the method used, the security arrangements in place, and whether the attack can be confirmed as a suicide bombing.

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