20 killed, 70 injured after powerful blast rips through shuttle train in Pakistan’s Balochistan

PT News Karachi, May 24

PT News Karachi, May 24

At least 20 people were killed and nearly 70 injured after a powerful explosion ripped through a shuttle train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday, authorities said. The shuttle train was heading from Quetta Cantonment to the railway station when it was targeted near Chaman Phatak, state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported. Pakistan’s Railways Minister, Hanif Abbasi, confirmed the explosion and said there were passengers on the shuttle train and the explosion had hit the engine and three bogies. “The train was going from Quetta Cantt station to the City Railway station when the explosion took place this morning,” Abbasi said.

Pakistani TV channels and websites reported that at least 20 people have been killed and 70 injured in the explosion. The banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the blast. According to a claim by a BLA spokesperson, the attack was carried out as the train was transporting military personnel from Quetta Cantt. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the explosion and said that “such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan”.

“I strongly condemn the heinous bomb explosion near Chaman Phatak, Quetta, which has resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives and left many others injured,” Sharif posted on X. “Such cowardly acts of terrorism cannot weaken the resolve of the people of Pakistan. We remain steadfast in our determination to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for the swift recovery of the injured.”