by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Chief International Correspondent
ISLAMABAD (Worthy News) – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Sunday that his “entire nation stands in solidarity with the people of Balochistan” after at least 20 people were killed and 70 others injured in an explosion targeting a train carrying military personnel in the western region.
The blast occurred while the train was traveling through Chaman Phatak station in Quetta, the capital of the Balochistan region, early Sunday morning, witnesses said.
Railway officials told media that three coaches and the engine were derailed while two other coaches overturned.
The shuttle service had primarily been transporting military personnel and their families returning home for Eid, the major Muslim holiday marking the end of Ramadan and celebrated with prayers, family gatherings, and festive meals.
The blast also came as a shock for minority Christians observing the Pentecost holiday in a nation where believers have reported threats and attacks.
BALOCHISTAN TRAIN ATTACK
The regional government said the separatist Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) was responsible for the attack, describing it as a suicide bombing.
It was not the first time the group had targeted trains in Balochistan. In March 2025, militants hijacked a train traveling to Peshawar and reportedly took passengers hostage.
The BLA accuses Pakistan’s federal government of exploiting Balochistan’s rich mineral resources without adequately benefiting the local population.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the latest attack, saying “such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan.”
“The entire nation stands in solidarity with the people of Balochistan in this hour of grief,” he added.
PAKISTAN SECURITY CONCERNS
Images from the scene showed burnt-out and mangled train carriages, damaged vehicles, and destruction to a nearby building.
Eyewitnesses said a vehicle loaded with explosives drove into the train, triggering the blast while passengers were onboard.
Local resident Naseer Ahmed told media his family had been asleep when the explosion shattered windows in the surrounding area.
Officials said the death toll could rise further, with at least three soldiers among those killed. An emergency was declared at hospitals treating the wounded.
Authorities said passengers aboard the train had been traveling from a nearby military encampment to Quetta’s main railway station before continuing toward Peshawar and other hometowns for the Eid holiday.
VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN’S BALOCHISTAN
Balochistan covers nearly 44 percent of Pakistan’s territory and borders both Iran and Afghanistan, and stretches along part of the Arabian Sea coastline.
Despite its vast size and natural resources, the province is home to only about 5 percent of Pakistan’s population of more than 240 million people.
Violence between separatist fighters and Pakistani security forces has intensified in recent years.
Clashes erupted in Quetta and other parts of the region earlier this year, leaving at least 31 civilians dead, officials explained.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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