Bomb Blast in Pakistan: At least 24 people were killed and more than 40 others wounded in a bomb blast at Quetta’s railway station in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday. The explosion occurred just as the Peshawar-bound express train was about to depart, sending shockwaves through the bustling transport hub.
Local authorities confirmed the casualties, with Balochistan’s police chief, Mouzzam Jah Ansari, stating that the death toll from the explosion had risen to 24. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals, many in critical condition.
The attack highlights the growing security concerns in Balochistan, where both separatist ethnic militants and Islamist extremist groups have escalated their violent activities in recent months. Separatist groups in the region, fighting for the secession of the resource-rich province, have intensified their insurgency, while Islamist militants continue to target security forces and civilian infrastructure in the northwest.
Balochistan, which is strategically important due to its proximity to the Arabian Sea and its hosting of major China-led infrastructure projects, including a deep-water port and mineral reserves, has long been a hotspot for violence. In August, a series of attacks in the province killed 73 people, marking one of the deadliest periods in years for Baloch separatists.
While no group has yet claimed responsibility for Saturday’s bombing, the attack is being investigated as part of the ongoing violence linked to both insurgent and militant activities in the area. Local authorities and security forces have pledged to increase their efforts to combat the rising tide of violence that continues to plague Balochistan.
