PAKISTAN TRAIN BLAST KILLS AT LEAST 24 IN BALOCHISTAN

A bomb blast struck a shuttle train in Quetta, the capital of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, on Sunday, killing at least 24 people and injuring around 70, according to Reuters. Provincial government and security officials said the train was carrying Pakistani security personnel and their families.

The train was travelling from Quetta’s cantonment area to connect with the Jaffar Express when the explosion occurred near a residential area. Reuters reported that the blast derailed the engine and three coaches, overturning two of them and damaging nearby buildings.

The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack and described it as a suicide bombing. The Associated Press reported that the blast involved an explosives-laden vehicle detonated as the train passed near the railway track.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims. Hospitals in the area declared a medical emergency, according to the Associated Press, which reported that several of the wounded were in critical condition.

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has faced repeated attacks linked to separatist militancy. Reuters reported that the province has seen recent attacks on trains, security forces, and infrastructure, including earlier violence claimed by the Baloch Liberation Army.

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