- At least 24 people were killed on Sunday (May 24, 2026) in a blast targeting a train carrying military personnel in Pakistan’s turbulent southwestern province of Balochistan, a senior official said.
- The train had travelled a short distance after picking up passengers from Quetta military cantonment when it became the target of a massive Suicide Vehicle-borne (SVB-IED) attack near ‘Chaman Phatak’.
- Eyewitnesses said a vehicle laden with explosives drove into the train, causing the explosion.
- The train was reportedly carrying over 300 Pakistani military personnel when the explosion hit, detailing one of its three bogies. The vehicle-borne blast caused the train to derail and triggered a fire. Local youtubers showed at least one bogie of the train as completely destroyed, while nearby houses and vehicles also suffered heavy damage in the explosion that occurred on the railway track.
- A train suffered partial damage in the blast, while 10 vehicles parked in the area were also damaged, police said. The impact of the explosion shattered the windows and glass panels of nearby buildings, Geo News reported.
- The explosion occurred on Sunday (May 24) near Chaman Phatak railway station in Quetta.
- At least 100 people sustained injuries in the blast, rescue officials said.
Emergency declared in government hospitals
- Following the incident, an emergency was declared in government hospitals across Quetta, with doctors and medical staff summoned to handle the situation.
- Railway authorities said the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was stopped at Quetta Railway Station after the blast as a precautionary measure, the report added.
- Babar Yousafzai, the spokesperson to the Home Minister, said that all relevant institutions have been placed on high alert following an explosion in the city.
- He urged the public not to gather near the blast site to ensure safety and allow emergency teams to carry out rescue operations without obstruction.
BLA claims responsibility
- Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack on train carrying military personnel in Quetta on Sunday (May 24, 2026). Jeeyand Baloch, spokesperson for the Baloch Liberation Army, said in a statement, “Baloch Liberation Army, targeted a train transporting personnel of the occupying forces from Quetta Cantt in a highly organized fidayee attack. The Baloch Liberation Army accepts full responsibility for this operation.”
- Baloch Liberation Army said that they will release shortly a statement regarding the operation and human casualties of the attack.
Pakistan has experienced several attacks by separatist groups in recent months. The attacks have increased in ferocity and have also targeted Chinese workers due to opposition to Beijing’s infrastructure projects in Balochistan, he added. Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, China’s Xinjiang region has been connected to Pakistan’s Gwadar port.