At least 24 people have been killed in an explosion targeting a train carrying army personnel in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province.
The blast occurred near Quetta, injuring more than 50 people and derailing a part of the train, officials said.
What do we know about Balochistan blasts?
As the train passed a signal point, an explosive-laden vehicle hit a compartment, causing a powerful explosion that blew out windows and damaged nearby vehicles, officials said.
The train was carrying army personnel and their families from Quetta to Peshawar ahead of the Eid holidays.
Photos from the scene showed a damaged vehicle on the shore, rescue workers pulling bloodied victims from the debris and security forces securing the area.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, calling it a “tragic loss of innocent lives” and a “cowardly act of terrorism.”
What has happened in Balochistan?
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and poorest province, has long been facing unrest and terrorist violence. The oil and mineral-rich region has long been the site of a low-level insurgency, with militants often targeting security forces and government facilities as well as civilians.
The province’s Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti strongly condemned the attack, saying the terrorists had targeted “innocent civilians including women and children” and promised to catch the culprits.
While officials say the insurgency has been largely contained, violence continues, including a 2024 suicide bombing at a train station that killed at least 26 people, including soldiers.
Edited by: Natalie Muller