Monday, September 21, 2026

Bomb attack on train kills 20, injures several in Pakistan

Three coaches and the engine derailed, while two were overturned.

• May 24, 2026
Pakistan flag
Pakistan flag [Credit: The Econimic Times]

At least 20 people were killed, and more than 70 others wounded in a suicide bombing in Quetta, southwest Pakistan, on Sunday.

The incident occurred when a train carrying soldiers and their families from a military camp passed through Chaman Phatak railway station in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.

Witnesses said the explosion occurred when a car with explosives drove into the train, transporting security operatives returning home for Eid, BBC reported.

Three coaches and the engine derailed, while two were overturned.

The militant group, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), claimed responsibility for the attack, which it called a suicide bombing.

Nearby vehicles and a building were damaged, and the train carriages were twisted and caught fire.

“The train was moving, and there were passengers on board when the explosion occurred,” a local resident, Naseer Ahmed, told the BBC, adding that his windows were shattered.

A police officer in Balochistan said there were fears that more deaths could be recorded, according to the broadcaster.

In a post on X, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said, “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.”

“The entire nation stands in solidarity with the people of Balochistan in this hour of grief,” he added.

Local media reports said a state of emergency was declared in hospitals where victims were receiving care.

This is BLA’s latest attack on a train in Balochistan in recent years. In March 2025, it attacked a train en route to Peshawar from Quetta, with passengers held hostage. The train was said to be carrying over 400 passengers.

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