At least 24 people have been killed and more than 50 injured after an explosion struck a train carrying army personnel and their families in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan.
Officials said the blast occurred near Quetta when an explosive-laden vehicle hit a carriage as the train passed a signal point, triggering a powerful detonation that blew out windows, derailed part of the train and damaged nearby vehicles.
The train was en route from Quetta to Peshawar ahead of the Eid holiday. Images from the scene showed a mangled carriage on its side and rescuers pulling bloodied victims from the wreckage as security forces secured the area and attended to the wounded.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, calling it a ‘tragic loss of innocent lives’ and a ‘cowardly act of terrorism.’ Balochistan’s chief minister, Sarfraz Bugti, also denounced the assault, saying militants had targeted ‘innocent civilians, including women and children,’ and vowed to hunt down those responsible.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and poorest province, has long experienced unrest and militant violence. The oil- and mineral-rich region has been the scene of a low-level insurgency, with militants frequently targeting security forces, government facilities and civilians. Authorities say the insurgency has been largely contained in recent years, but violence persists, including a 2024 suicide bombing at a train station that killed at least 26 people, among them soldiers.
Investigations into the latest attack were under way, and security forces intensified operations in the area. Hospitals in Quetta reported receiving dozens of casualties and treating a range of injuries; ambulances and emergency teams were dispatched to the scene.
The blast adds to growing concern about security in Balochistan and the safety of transport routes used by military personnel and civilians alike, especially during holiday travel. Officials pledged to pursue the perpetrators and step up protective measures, while local and national leaders expressed condolences to the victims’ families.