Pakistan: 24 Killed and Over 40 Injured in Blast at Quetta Railway Station

At least 24 people were killed, and more than 40 others injured following a blast at the Quetta Railway Station in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Saturday. The blast occurred as a train was preparing to depart for Peshawar. Quetta's Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, Mohammad Baloch, stated that the explosion "seems to be a suicide blast," though he cautioned that it was too early to confirm this. An investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause and nature of the blast. SSP Baloch also noted that approximately 100 people were present at the station at the time of the explosion.

As emergency services rushed to the scene, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that the Bomb Disposal Squad had begun collecting evidence. He also warned that the death toll could rise, as several of the injured were in critical condition. An emergency was declared at local hospitals to treat the wounded, with some receiving urgent medical care.

According to reports, the bomb went off near the station’s booking office, a typically crowded area where passengers gather before their trains depart. The Jaffer Express, scheduled to leave for Peshawar at 9 a.m. local time, was among the trains affected by the blast. The explosion was so intense that it was heard in multiple parts of the city, and severely damaged the platform, including the station's roof.

While the exact cause of the blast remains under investigation, officials emphasized that no specific bomb threats had been received prior to the explosion. However, Rind acknowledged that a general security threat existed due to the volatile law and order situation in the province.

In response to the attack, Balochistan's Chief Minister, Sarfaraz Bugti, condemned the assault as an attack on innocent civilians. "The terrorists’ target now are innocent people, laborers, children, and women," Bugti said in a statement. "Those targeting innocent people do not deserve mercy,” he added. He called for a thorough investigation and vowed to continue the fight against terrorism. "Terrorists are not eligible to be called humans. They have fallen from humanity; they are worse than animals," he said. The Chief Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to rooting out terrorism in the region.​