A devastating bomb blast struck Quetta’s main railway station in Balochistan on Saturday, November 9, killing at least 25 people, including 14 Pakistani Army soldiers. The explosion, which took place as passengers waited for a train bound for Peshawar, was claimed by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). Local authorities confirmed the blast occurred around 8:45 a.m. local time, sending shockwaves through the city, with many injured in the chaos.
Muhammad Baloch, a senior police official, confirmed the casualties and cautioned that the death toll could rise, as several of the wounded were in critical condition. Quetta’s senior superintendent of police, Mohammad Baloch, initially described the attack as a likely suicide bombing but emphasized that a comprehensive investigation was underway. Authorities also noted that around 100 individuals were present at the station at the time of the explosion, making it one of the deadliest incidents at the facility in recent memory.
Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government, reported that emergency services were quickly mobilized, and an emergency was declared at local hospitals to handle the influx of injured passengers. Bomb disposal units were dispatched to examine the site, working to collect vital evidence in the aftermath of the attack.
The BLA, a militant separatist group advocating for independence in the resource-rich yet impoverished province of Balochistan, claimed responsibility for the attack. The group stated that the blast targeted Pakistani soldiers who had just completed a training course at the station. The BLA has been increasingly active in recent years, with many of its attacks aimed at security personnel and infrastructure projects, especially those funded by foreign nations such as China. The group claims that these projects exploit Balochistan’s natural resources, which they argue are being extracted without benefiting the local population.
This attack comes just months after the BLA was behind one of the deadliest assaults in the region, an August bombing that killed at least 39 people. These types of attacks are becoming more frequent as the separatist movement intensifies, reflecting the long-standing tensions in Balochistan, where many residents feel marginalized by the central government and foreign investments in the area.
The violence in Balochistan is part of a broader conflict between the Pakistani government and insurgent groups, with both sides suffering heavy losses. The region’s strategic location and vast natural resources make it a critical area for both national and international interests, but it is also home to one of the most significant and unresolved separatist movements in South Asia. With this latest bombing, the situation in Balochistan remains tense, and further violence is feared as both militants and government forces continue to clash over control and influence in the region.