QUETTA — At least 23 people were killed and about 70 others wounded in a suicide bombing targeting a passenger train in Quetta, Balochistan province, Pakistan. The attack occurred when an explosives-laden vehicle detonated near a railway line as the train passed, causing two train cars to overturn and catch fire.

The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it targeted a train carrying security personnel. The explosion sent thick black smoke into the sky, and nearby buildings were heavily damaged, with more than a dozen parked vehicles impacted by the blast.

Several victims were transported to local hospitals, with about 20 of the wounded reported to be in critical condition. The Times of India reported that the train was carrying army personnel and their family members traveling from Quetta to Peshawar for the Eid holidays.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the bombing in a public statement. "I strongly condemn the heinous bomb explosion near Chaman Phatak, Quetta, which has resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives and left many others injured. Such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan. We remain steadfast in our determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." He added, "I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the swift recovery of the injured. The entire nation stands in solidarity with the people of Balochistan in this hour of grief."

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti vowed a forceful response. "Those who shed the blood of innocent people deserve no leniency. Let the enemy hear this: there will be no safe haven left for terrorists in Balochistan. We will hunt down the terrorists, their facilitators, and their masterminds one by one and bring them to justice, and this war will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated." Bugti also stated, "The terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan are proving their savagery by targeting innocent civilians, women, and children," describing the group as "evil originating from India."

Balochistan has long been the site of a low-level but persistent insurgency involving separatist and militant groups. The Balochistan Liberation Army has increasingly carried out large-scale suicide operations targeting Pakistani security forces and infrastructure in Quetta. In 2024, at least 26 people, including soldiers, were killed in a suicide bombing at a train station in Balochistan.