QUETTA, Pakistan – A significant explosion detonated near a railway line in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, on Sunday. Official reports indicate at least 23 individuals lost their lives, with over 70 others sustaining injuries, some critically. The blast occurred as a passenger train passed the track.
The militant organization Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating their target was a train carrying security personnel. Preliminary police findings suggest the incident was a suicide bombing, involving an explosives-laden vehicle.
Pakistani authorities, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the chief minister of Balochistan province, visited Quetta to address the aftermath and convene meetings. President Asif Ali Zardari condemned the bombing, framing it as an attempt by militants and their supporters to disrupt Pakistan's regional and international peace initiatives.
The area, Balochistan, is described as "insurgency-hit," though authorities maintain they have subdued such activity. Violence in the region, however, appears to persist. This incident echoes a previous attack in February, for which the BLA also claimed responsibility, reportedly resulting in at least 33 deaths.
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Local hospitals received more than 30 wounded, with at least 20 in critical condition, according to medical staff. Security officials confirmed that at least 16 bodies were transported to hospitals following the explosion.
