Deadly Blast in Quetta: Rising Militancy Threatens Security

A bomb blast at a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan, killed 24 and injured 40. The Baloch Liberation Army, seeking independence for Balochistan, claimed responsibility. The attack heightens concerns about regional stability as the province hosts strategic development projects.

A devastating bomb blast claimed at least 24 lives and left more than 40 injured at a busy railway station in Quetta, southwestern Pakistan, on Saturday. The attack is the latest in a troubling series of incidents in Balochistan province, where ethnic separatist militants have escalated their operations.

Inspector General Mouzzam Jah Ansari confirmed the toll and indicated that the target was military personnel from the Infantry School. Among the deceased were 16 soldiers, according to Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqat. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which demands the independence of Balochistan, took responsibility for the explosion.

Balochistan's strategic significance, with its untapped mineral wealth, has made it a focal point for development projects, including major China-led initiatives. The province has faced an insurgency with attacks on infrastructure, such as last month's militant actions, which resulted in 73 deaths and paralyzed key transport and communication lines.

(With inputs from agencies.)