At least 24 Pakistani military personnel were killed and over 100 others injured on Sunday morning following a massive suicide blast targeting a shuttle train near the Quetta railway track in Balochistan.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a proscribed separatist group, has claimed responsibility for the assault. The explosion occurred near the 'Chaman Phatak' area shortly after the train departed from the Quetta military cantonment, carrying more than 300 passengers, a significant number of whom were military personnel.
According to preliminary reports, the attackers utilized a Suicide Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SVB-IED) to target the moving train. The sheer force of the blast caused the train to derail, instantly triggering a massive fire.
Local authorities have confirmed 24 fatalities so far, with fears that the death toll could rise given the critical condition of several injured individuals. The wounded have been rushed to nearby medical facilities, including the Military Hospital in Quetta, where an emergency has been declared.
At least one of the train's three bogies was completely destroyed and reduced to twisted metal. Nearby residential houses and parked vehicles suffered extensive damage due to the impact of the explosion.
In a statement released to the media, the Majeed Brigade—the suicide squad of the Baloch Liberation Army—claimed execution of the "Fidayeen attack." The group explicitly stated that the operation was designed to target Pakistani army personnel traveling on the shuttle.
Security forces have cordoned off the entire area, and a large-scale search operation is currently underway to track down facilitators of the attack. Railway operations through Quetta have been temporarily suspended following the incident.
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