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A devastating suicide attack at Quetta railway station in Pakistan's Balochistan province claimed the lives of at least 26 people and injured 62 others on Saturday. The explosion, which occurred at the station's booking office, ripped through the station just as passengers were gathering for the 9 am Jaffar Express to Peshawar. The booking office, being a hub of activity, saw a large crowd at the time of the attack, leading to the significant casualty count.
The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a banned militant group, swiftly claimed responsibility for the attack. The group has a history of carrying out violent acts in the region, fueling a long-standing conflict between the Baloch people and the Pakistani state. The attack, according to Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat, was primarily directed at law enforcement agencies, but civilians were also targeted. He confirmed that, alongside civilians, “some law enforcement” personnel were among the casualties.
The incident has once again underscored the precarious security situation in Pakistan's Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, which have witnessed a surge in terrorism-related incidents over the past year. This latest attack comes on the heels of a deadly blast in Balochistan's Mastung district last week, killing eight people, including five children, near a girls' school and a hospital. These tragedies highlight the urgent need for comprehensive security measures and effective counter-terrorism strategies to combat the escalating violence plaguing the region.
Source: Pakistan: CCTV footage shows horrific moment of Quetta railway station blast that killed 26