Pakistan Bomb Blast: At Least 24 Killed, 46 Injured As Explosion Occurs At Quetta

At least 24 people were killed and 46 others injured in a bomb blast at Quetta's railway station in southwestern Pakistan on Saturday. Also, 14 army personnel lost their lives in the incident.

"Fourteen army personnel are among the 25 confirmed dead," AFP quoted senior officer Muhammad Baloch as saying.

The blast took place near the railway platform, and local authorities have cordoned off the area while rescue operations continue.

The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals, with some reported to be in critical condition. The cause of the explosion is under investigation, but no group has yet claimed responsibility.

This attack is part of a broader surge in militant violence across Pakistan, particularly in its northwest and southern regions, where a growing separatist insurgency poses significant security challenges. Authorities are expected to release further details soon.

It comes a week after a deadly explosion near a girls' school and hospital in Balochistan's Mastung district that claimed eight lives, including five children.

Hamza Shafqat, Commissioner of Quetta Division, confirmed the blast as a suicide attack and reported that train services were being suspended in response. Speaking to Geo News, he mentioned that civilians and law enforcement personnel were among the deceased. The banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has taken responsibility for the attack.

The blast, which occurred around 8:25 a.m., took place as the Jaffar Express was preparing to depart for Peshawar. Footage reviewed by Quetta Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Mohammad Baloch indicated approximately 100 people were at the platform at the time. Emergency teams and security forces swiftly reached the site, and an emergency was declared at local hospitals to provide urgent medical aid to the injured.

Commissioner Shafqat appealed for blood donations to assist the wounded. He stated that the city had been cordoned off, gatherings were banned, and snap-checking was underway to ensure safety. Footage aired by Dawn News showed extensive rubble at the platform.

This explosion comes after Pakistan Railways resumed train services between Quetta and Peshawar on October 11, following a suspension since August 26 due to a blast that destroyed a key railway bridge between Kolpur and Mach. That attack, also claimed by the BLA, was part of a series of coordinated assaults across the province.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said that police and the Bomb Disposal Squad were collecting evidence at the scene, and a report on the incident had been requested.