United News of Bangladesh

A suicide attack near a railway track in southwestern Quetta has left at least 19 people dead and more than 70 injured, officials said on Sunday. According to authorities, the explosion occurred when a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle near a passenger train passing through the city. The blast was so powerful that two coaches of the train overturned and caught fire, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air. Witnesses and video footage circulating on social media showed extensive damage in the surrounding area, including destroyed vehicles and damaged buildings. The attack took place in a high-security zone where security forces are usually deployed. Medical officials said dozens of wounded victims were taken to nearby hospitals, with at least 20 people reported to be in critical condition. Security sources also confirmed that bodies were shifted to hospitals following the blast. The banned militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, saying it had targeted a train carrying security personnel. Balochistan, a resource-rich but conflict-prone province, has long witnessed insurgent violence, with repeated attacks on security forces, government installations and civilians. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind condemned the attack, calling it a “barbaric act” and expressing grief over the loss of civilian lives. He said a medical emergency had been declared in Quetta hospitals and that an investigation was underway. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the incident, describing it as a “cowardly act of terrorism” and offering condolences to the victims’ families. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti vowed action against those responsible, saying militants had targeted innocent civilians, including women and children. Authorities in Islamabad and Balochistan frequently accuse the BLA of being supported externally, an allegation denied by India. Relations between Pakistan and India remain tense, with longstanding disputes over Kashmir. Despite official claims of containing the insurgency, attacks in Balochistan have continued. In a similar incident in 2024, at least 26 people, including soldiers, were killed in a suicide bombing at a railway station in the province.