According to police at least 25 people died and over 40 were injured in a bombing at a busy railway station in Balochistan province of Pakistan.
The explosion happened on Saturday morning at around 8:45 am in Quetta which is the capital of Balochistan while about 100 passengers were waiting for a train to Peshawar.
Senior Superintendent of Police Muhammad Baloch reported that among the dead were “14 soldiers” as well as “five civilians and six railway employees.”
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan which is famous for its resources and its borders are with Afghanistan and Iran and faces attacks from armed groups. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack stating that “a suicide bomber targeted troops” at the station.
The BLA, which is a group who has been fighting for independence from Pakistan claiming that the government blasts the gas and mineral wealth of the province.
Journalist Saadullah Akhter who saw this said that “Since the beginning of 2024, we’ve really seen a surge of violence in Balochistan. So many attacks on security forces,” and more he said that “But this is the first time that the centre of Quetta has been targeted and it is very shocking to many people.”
Shahid Rind said that the bombing look like a suicide attack but investigations to confirm this claim by the BLA which is a terrorist group by Pakistan, the UK and the US.
The explosion damaged the steel roof of the platform.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif showed sadness for the attack and said those responsible “will pay a very heavy price for it.” He more said that the security forces have reached the end. “the menace of terrorism.”
The BLA has made many other attacks this year including coordinated attacks in August that killed at least 39 people and on 20 October miners were killed in a coal mine in Daki district of Balochistan.
These groups have also attacked foreign-funded energy projects specially those financed by China shows that outsiders have taken advantage of them without sharing the profits with local people.
Thousands of Chinese workers are working in Pakistan Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which is a large infrastructure project by China. Analyst Imtiaz Gul investigates this attack could be linked to Balochistan port city Gwadar which is part of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor .He explained “This is not only going to be a commercial and industrial port, but also being perceived by outsiders as a strategic staging port for the Chinese.”
At least 25 people were killed in a bomb blast at a railway station in Quetta Pakistan
